Wiltshire pig farmers fined £30,000 for animal welfare offenses

A Wiltshire couple who produced bacon sold to upmarket farm shops have been fined after being found guilty of animal welfare offences.

Roger Keen Farms Ltd was accused of keeping pigs in squalid, cramped and inhumane conditions and initially pleaded not guilty.

After being found guilty of 11 charges under the Animal Welfare Act and Animal By-Products Regulations, Roger and Rosemary Keen of Sandridge Farm were ordered to pay £29,162.

The judge said the sentence was fair and appropriate.

The court heard the offenses came to light when pigs on Keen’s farm were taken to slaughter at an abattoir and workers saw the poor condition of the animals.

Syan Ventom, prosecuting, told the hearing that the charges included “a piglet found dead in a trough”, “cannibalism” and “pigs with their tails and hindquarters chewed off”.

He added: “On at least 10 occasions the animals had to be euthanized there and then.”

He also claimed that staff were not properly trained.

The couple’s defense lawyer, Stuart Matthews, was highly critical of the allegations. He said: “To clarify on behalf of Roger Keen Farms, they strongly dispute that any pig was drowned.”

He went on to say, “Tail biting is very common on pig farms.”

Lucy Tapper, also appearing, said Mr Keen, who is 82, suffered a brain injury and his poor health, including the combined effect of Brexit and Covid, made it difficult for him to recruit more workers.