THE ROTTING carcases of hundreds of animals were discovered strewn across the hillside of a Tayside farm after a farmer left them to starve to death.
Officers from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) made the sickening discovery after launching an investigation into prominent east Perthshire businessman John Ferguson’s farm at Welton of Creuchies, near Alyth.
For more than five months Ferguson ignored the proper care of his animals, resulting in the death of 340 sheep and 14 cows in what has been described as one of the country’s worst cases of animal neglect.
The farm was already under scrutiny, but the scene of carnage only came to light after an anonymous tip-off brought investigators to the property.
Hundreds of other animals were found to be near death on the 700-acre farm run by Ferguson, who also owns a string of garages, a nightclub and a windfarm operation.
As the SSPCA swooped, the farmer admitted it had been up to a fortnight since he had checked on many of his animals.
Yesterday, the 50-year-old, who has suffered from mental health problems, was banned from keeping animals for life following an appearance at Perth Sheriff Court.
Ferguson narrowly escaped a prison sentence after Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said the maximum jail time he could impose would see the farmer spend little more than two months behind bars. Instead, he was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
SSPCA chief inspector Brian Cowing, who led the investigation, said the neglect represented “by far the worst animal welfare case” he had experienced in his 32 years of service.
He said he and his team discovered a landscape littered with the remains of sheep and cattle.
In some places the decomposing carcases were so thick on the ground the investigators found it difficult to tell how many animals they were looking at.
The animals that had died most recently were described as “extremely emaciated”, with their ribs clearly visible.
Animals that survived on the farm were also found to be emaciated and many were found to be so riddled with parasitic infections they could barely stand up.
A number of sheep were too ill to save and had to be put down.
Mr Cowling said animal cruelty cases of such severity were rare but expressed his disgust at the neglect on the farm.
“Many of the cattle and sheep were found to be in an extremely poor and emaciated condition,” he said.
“Some were suffering from parasitic infections, including liver fluke, a type of worm which can cause diarrhoea, weightloss and, if left untreated, death.
“One of the most distressing discoveries was a cow that had died whilst calving.
“That animal need not have suffered had proper stockmanship been deployed and veterinary care been provided in a timely fashion.
“A competent stockman would have readily identified the problems with the livestock on the farm and dealt with them through veterinary advice and treatment, adequate levels of feeding and supervision.
“Welton of Creuchies was a farm that could not function properly.
“We believe John Ferguson has demonstrated beyond any doubt that he is unfit to provide animals with the proper care and attention they require. Therefore we are extremely pleased that he has received a life ban on keeping animals.”
Ferguson admitted failing to provide 1,120 sheep and lambs and 95 cows and calves with a proper diet and necessary veterinary attention between October 1 2011 and February 23 last year.
He also admitted failing to properly dispose of the bodies of 340 sheep and 14 cattle.
The court was told that from September 2011 Ferguson had been attempting to manage the farm single-handedly after his stockmen left the business.
QC Mark Stewart said his client had been running the family farm since he was a young man and had taken great pride in the care of his livestock.
He told the court his client’s ability to operate the farm and care for his animals had been damaged by what he described as a “depressive episode”, which he said had effectively seen Ferguson suffer “a minor medical breakdown”.
“There was a catastrophic breakdown of the measures of care that should have been in place for these animals but this was a situation that can be explained as a breakdown in health rather than morality,” Mr Stewart said.
“This has had a dramatic effect on his personal, family and social life and is something that will not be forgotten in the farming community in which he has been brought up.”
mmackay@thecourier.co.uk