A Co. Armagh farmer was convicted at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court recently on 21 charges relating to animal movement offences.
Jim Thompson, of Plantation Road, Portadown, Co Armagh, pleaded guilty to all 21 charges.
These included one charge of removing ear tags from bovine animals and one charge of failing to present a herd register.
He also pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to notify the Department of Agriculture of the movement of two animals onto his holding as well as three charges of failing to have three animals TSE tested within 24 hours of death.
Thompson received a three month jail sentence for each charge to run concurrently, which has been suspended for three years.
These offences came to light as a result of a Cattle Identification Inspection carried out by the Veterinary Service Enforcement Branch.
Farmer fined over £1,250
A Co. Down farmer was convicted recently at Newry Magistrates’ Court of one charge of failure to notify the births or movement of seven animals onto his holding.
Patrick Tiernan from Tievecrum Road, Forkhill, Newry was also convicted of one charge of failure to dispose of a carcass.
These offences came to light during an inspection of Tiernan’s farm by Veterinary Service Enforcement Branch.
Breaches of the Cattle Identification Regulations weaken and undermine the cattle traceability system in the North, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.