Animal ban for Keighley farmer who left cow dead in mud

A farmer whose premises had “the worst standards ever seen” by council officers has been banned from keeping animals for life.

Malcolm Mosley severely neglected his 45 cows at Primrose Farm in Riddlesden, Keighley, and did not comply when ordered to improve conditions and seek veterinary assistance.

Mosley, 62, had been told at an earlier hearing that he was likely to face prison after pleading guilty to nine charges relating to causing unnecessary suffering of an animal and failing to ensure animal welfare.

At Bradford Crown Court on Friday, Mosley was instead given a 12-month community order that will require him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

The court previously heard Bradford Council sent officers to the farm on Ilkley Road in September 2022.

During a number of visits over a six-month period, inspectors found a cow dead and submerged in mud inside the barn and one stuck in frozen mud around the hay feeder outside the entrance to the barn.

Several of the bovines were in a poor state, with one found malnourished and with a broken leg, while another had an ingrowing horn that had pierced skin behind its eye.

The animals also had no feed or bedding in their barns and water troughs in cowsheds were left empty, the Local Democracy Service reports.

Clare Walsh, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, said Mosley did little to improve conditions and, in some cases, opted to have animals shot instead of treated.

When it became clear Mosley would be given a ban on keeping animals, he had all the cows on the farm euthanised.

Kathryn Pitters, representing Mosley, said he had farmed since he was a child, and inherited Primrose Farm from his parents, for whom he had acted as a carer in recent years.

The court heard Mosley, who had shown “a deep regret” over the offences, had recently suffered periods of ill health, including a heart attack.

Ms Pitters added: “With the benefit of hindsight, he wasn’t up to the job of managing a farm, and that unfortunately showed in the animals in his care.

“He is someone who acted incompetently rather than being deliberately sadistic.”

The court heard the case had cost the taxpayer almost £10,000 to investigate and bring to court.

The council asked the court to order Mosley to pay these costs but he was ordered to contribute £1,000.