Farmer who starved two cows to death and neglected third ordered to do unpaid work

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A farmer has been ordered to do unpaid work after admitting to starving two cows to death and neglecting a third in Moray.

Douglas Duncan, from Knockando, pled guilty to failing to provide sufficient food and veterinary care, which resulted in the death of two of his cows.

The Scottish SPCA received a witness report regarding three cows in a barn stuck in the muck and unable to get up for several months at a farm in Knockando rented by Duncan.

They later reported that the cows had been moved around the back of the barn and were alive but could not stand or reach a plastic bucket with oats in it.

SSPCA officers attended the property and discovered three emaciated young Shorthorn-type heifers.

“All their bones were visible, and the skin stretched across them,” Inspector Crockett said.

The animals were described as being “caked in dried muck” while one of the cows was already dead.

“The heifers couldn’t stand, and the ground beneath was flattened where they had been lying.

“There were buckets of barley and water in front of them, but they could not move to reach them.”

Duncan told officers he moved the animals out the barn the day before in the bucket of his tractor as they could not stand, and said they had been down for ten days.

SSPCA officers immediately called for a vet who examined all three heifers and found their condition close to being “non-compatible with survival”.

“It was agreed that one would be euthanised and that treatment would be given to the third heifer, but if no improvement was made within 48 hours, then she too would be euthanised,” the charity said.

Duncan was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months at Elgin Sheriff Court on February 20.

Following sentencing, the charity said: “We are extremely disappointed that Mr Duncan has only received unpaid work on this occasion as we do not feel this reflects the suffering caused to these cows over a period of months.

“We hope he will be more conscientious in future about ensuring any animal he owns receives the appropriate husbandry and veterinary care required.”

The charity urged anyone with concerns about an animal to get in touch: “If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”