Pig farmers fined £29k over welfare offences

The pigs were kept in poor conditions, the court heard

A couple from Wiltshire who produced bacon sold at high-end farm shops have been fined after being pleading guilty to animal welfare offences.

Roger Keen Farms Ltd was accused of keeping pigs in squalid, cramped and inhumane conditions, and initially pleaded not guilty.

But they pleaded guilty on a number of charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Roger and Rosemary Keen of Sandridge Farm have been ordered to pay £29,162.

The judge said the punishment was fair and appropriate.

The court heard the offences came to light when pigs from the Keen's farm were taken to slaughter at an abattoir, and workers saw the poor condition of the animals.

Syan Ventom for the prosecution told the hearing the allegations included "a piglet found dead in a trough", "cannibalism" and "pigs having their tails and rear end chewed".

He added that 10 animals "had to be euthanised" immediately.

He also alleged staff had not been properly trained.

Defending the couple, Stuart Matthews, was highly critical of the allegations. He said: "To make clear on behalf of Roger Keen Farms, they strongly dispute that any pig was drowned."

He went on to say: "Tail-biting is very common on pig farms."

Lucy Tapper, also defending, said Mr Keen, who is 82, had sustained a brain injury and his poor health, including the combined effect of Brexit and Covid, made it difficult for him to recruit more workers.