Lucerne justice: 66-year-old farmer imprisoned for abuse of cattle
A livestock farmer in the Lucerne region has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for serious neglect of his animals. His wife was acquitted.
Lucerne justice: 66-year-old farmer imprisoned for abuse of cattle
The Lucerne Criminal Court has imposed a sentence of two years and three months in detention, part of it to be served immediately, on a 66-year-old cattle farmer. He was found guilty of animal cruelty as well as other offences. His spouse, also prosecuted, was acquitted.
The facts date back to 2017, when a canton veterinarian discovered a young calf that had died on a farm with deplorable hygiene conditions. The competent authorities then removed 31 head of cattle from the couple, who owned 600 cattle across seven different sites. Twenty-three of these animals, in too poor a condition, had to be euthanised immediately.
During inspections, agents found damp and dirty stalls, animals presenting lameness, and calves suffering from digestive disorders. The facilities themselves were dilapidated.
The magistrates also sanctioned the farmer for his refusal to comply with orders from the authorities and for contaminating a drinking water reserve. The verdict, made public on Thursday, is harsher than the prosecutor's request, who had called for a conviction with a suspended sentence accompanied by a fine. The defence lawyers, who demanded acquittal, did not convince the judges.
Source: Le Temps
Source: Le Temps