Stirling Farmer Fined for Neglecting Highland Cows During Drought

Stirling farmer David Cameron was fined for neglecting five Highland cattle, which were left in a field during a drought with minimal grass and no supplementary feed between April and June 2023. Animal welfare inspectors found two cows emaciated and others malnourished, with one failing to develop udders due to chronic malnutrition. The animals were ultimately fed and auctioned by staff at a local cattle mart after an anonymous tip-off alerted authorities. Cameron admitted responsibility, citing a breakdown in arrangements for the cattle's care and delays in their transport, but was spared jail and allowed to keep other cattle due to his previously unblemished farming record. In a separate case, Wiltshire farmers Michael and Julia Babey were sentenced for animal welfare violations after keeping cattle without water and in overcrowded, filthy conditions, resulting in suspended imprisonment, fines, and a 10-year ban on keeping most animals. These cases highlight the ongoing legal and welfare challenges surrounding the treatment of farm animals in the UK.