Dairy farmer must pay £20,000 for flouting TB rules

A  dairy farmer who admitted flouting TB movement restrictions has been fined £11,250.

David Butler, 59, knowingly moved cows from holdings in the high-risk TB area of East Sussex to low-risk county West Sussex.

Mr Butler, co-owner of FJ Butler and Sons, a long-established family dairy farming partnership based in Uckfield, East Sussex, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on Monday (20 March) for sentencing.

See also: More effort needed to combat bovine TB, Defra says

A judge branded Mr Butler “arrogant” for disregarding animal welfare legislation and ignoring previous warnings, believing “he knew best”.

He previously pleaded guilty to six breaches of the Animal Health Act 1981, including four TB cattle movement violations, and one breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

He failed to comply with 11 notices to cleanse and disinfect Tremains Farm, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, and five notices to isolate cattle after 36 reactors were identified.

Clash of personalities

Jeremy Cave, prosecuting, for East Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards service, said the four TB cattle movement breaches occurred between October and December 2015 while the farm, which comprises five holdings, was under TB restrictions following a breakdown in November 2014.

“The control of this disease depends on the farming community pulling together and following the framework under the Animal and Plant Health Agency [APHA],” Mr Cave said.

In November 2015, Mr Butler moved 40 calves without a licence to Watlands Farm, Scaynes Hill, West Sussex, from Laughton Park Farm, Lewes, East Sussex.

Richard Atkins, defending, said there was a “clash of personalities” between Mr Butler and APHA vet Isabella Ciafaca, adding: “It takes two to tango and one to advance. Neither decided to advance.”

Mr Atkins said Mr Butler was “asset rich and cash poor” and had sold the cattle from Tremains Farm last July, costing him £90,000 in lost income.

“The partnership effectively fell on his shoulders and with the best will in the world, the involvement of his father and uncle has not necessarily been that helpful,” he added.

‘No evidence’ infection spread

Sentencing him, district judge Chris James gave Mr Butler credit for his previous good character, guilty pleas and said there was no evidence of any spread of TB infection.

He was ordered to pay £9,300 court costs and a £112.50 victim surcharge.

Speaking after sentencing, Mr Butler said: “The county boundary is stuck in the middle of my farm, field by field.

“We have been farming in the same way for nearly 60 years. It’s a practice that we cannot undo within 12 months. I have fallen foul of a TB rule and I’m very saddened by it all.”

In January, Farmers Weekly reported that a TB breakdown had forced Mr Butler to close and destock Tremains Farm, costing him £200,000.

He blamed the potential reservoir of disease in wildlife and camelids for “pockets” of TB appearing in low-risk areas.