A Carmarthen farmer has been ordered to pay over £2,000 after three dead calves were found rotting on his land.

Wyn Morgan, of Rhyddgoes Fawr, in Newcastle Emlyn, admitted delaying the disposal of the fallen stock despite being reminded by animal health officers on a number of occasions to do so.

The 48-year-old appeared before Llanelli magistrates in a case led by Carmarthenshire Council.

The court heard that following a complaint on rotting calves being dumped on land in April last year, Morgan was advised to remove the mixed breed carcasses which were along the boundary hedge and against the woodland. After removing just six he was given until May 7 to clear the remaining three.

On May 4, in a phone call between his solicitor and council officers, it was claimed that Morgan had been unable to locate the remaining three despite him having collected six from the same location earlier. The location was also marked with a red and white feed bag.

The farmer then claimed he couldn’t move them until May 11 – some four weeks after the find – as he was short staffed. They were eventually removed on May 8.

In mitigation, Morgan maintained they weren’t his animals and that he had difficulty locating them, however, he did accept that as they were on his land he had the responsibility to remove them.

Morgan was given a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay £2196.70 costs and £20 victim surcharge. No separate penalty was imposed against his company, IW Morgan Farms Ltd.

The council’s executive board member for public protection, Cllr Philip Hughes said: “This has proved very costly for Mr Morgan who was aware it was his responsibility to dispose of any animal remains found on his land, safely and as quickly as possible. It was a very blatant act by him claiming, via his solicitor, that he didn’t know the location even though he’d been there previously and picked up six of the nine carcasses.

"Controls on animal by-products are there for a very good reason and protects against any potential risks to both human and animal health. Hopefully this will serve as a reminder to anyone who fails to remove fallen stock and we will continue to take action when necessary.”