TWO farmers near Salisbury have been prosecuted after cattle at their farm were found to have an insufficient amount of water and were left in squalid conditions.

Michael Babey (69) and Julie Babey (52) of Orcheston, near Salisbury, kept cattle on land at Tanners Lane in Shrewton.

Mr Babey was disqualified from keeping cattle and cows for five years in 2019 to prevent the risk of suffering to his animals in, with the ownership of the cattle passing to Mrs Babey.

However, animal welfare officers found Mr Babey continued to care for and keep cattle, in breach of the order.

A site visit in November 2023 revealed that 11 of the 24 cattle were being kept in one pen in heavily soiled conditions, with the feeding area covered in deep slurry and mud.

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The pen was found to be non-compliant with legal requirements due to insufficient space for all of the cattle to lie down simultaneously.

Water provided was highly soiled and not of suitable quality for the animals to drink.

Conditions had not improved when animal health officers visited the site again in January 2024.

This time, 23 cattle were found to have no access to water. One cow was seen to be licking from an empty water container for five minutes.

There was no water provision at the site, and the animals relied on this being brought to the farm in a container.

The vet’s opinion was that the cattle were being given insufficient amounts of water.

Records for the farm showed an overall mortality rate of 31% for cattle kept by Mr and Mrs Babey.

The overall mortality rate in England for all cattle in 2023 was 5.03%.

Michael Babey appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court on March 6 and 7 and was found guilty of animal welfare offences and breaching a disqualification order preventing Mr Babey from keeping cattle.

Julie Babey had previously pleaded guilty in May 2024 to animal welfare offences and aiding and abetting Mr Babey in breaching his disqualification order.

Mr and Mrs Babey will be sentenced at Salisbury Magistrate’s Court on 24 April.

Councillor Dominic Muns, cabinet member for environment said: “I’m proud of the work that our dedicated animal health officers carry out, and this case shows that they will act quickly to ensure that Wiltshire’ farmers and livestock owners take good care of their animals.

“I hope that the court’s decision today sends a strong message that failing to meet animal welfare standards will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.”