Cookstown farmer given suspended sentence over animal health charges

Andrew James Lyttle, Old Coagh Road, Carnfield, was convicted of three charges of failure to present bovine animals for tuberculosis testing and one charge of failure to produce a herd register when required.

The farmer, who was previously convicted in his absence, received a 14-day prison sentence and £500 fine on the first charge with regard to tuberculosis testing and a 14-day prison sentence and £250 fine on the remaining two tuberculosis charges.

He received a one month prison sentence and £150 fine in respect of the herd register charge. All the prison sentence penalties were suspended for two years, he was also ordered to pay £16 costs and a £15 offender’s levy.

He failed on a number of occasions to present bovine animals for Tuberculosis testing on request by an authorised Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and failed to present a herd register when required to do so.

Properly maintained herd registers form an integral part of the animal’s traceability, supporting the accuracy and integrity of the Department’s Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS). Maintained herd records help maintain public confidence in traceability and assists in animal disease control.