A FARMER accused of animal welfare charges said 35 cows killed on the grounds of animal welfare were not his pets.
John Pierce, 70, and his sons Ian Pierce, 47, and Geraint Pierce, 35, are accused of several charges relating to the welfare of animals they kept on Ley Farm, Chirk and associated land.
The charges were brought by Wrexham Council after the cows were shot following their escape from the farm in March last year.
Flintshire Magistrates Court heard the dispute over who was responsible for the animals was ongoing, with none of the Pierces accepting guilt.
Giving evidence John Pierce, who is representing himself, said he had passed on responsibility for the animals to his sons after he had a stroke.
He said: “I was the keeper when they came on the land. I physically could not do the work after the stroke.
“I said to both of them, I can’t do the job any more. Ian did not like big cattle, Geraint said he would look after the cattle.”
The Mold court was told the herd was bought in 2004 from North West Aero Engineering Services. The firm, in which John Pierce was involved, had partners in Russia and Australia.
Last week Zoe Clarke, a veterinary officer for Animal Health, told the court the animals had broken out in a desperate search for food.
Richard Thomas, defending Geraint Pierce, said the animals had been there as pets for John Pierce.
John Pierce responded: “That is a stupid statement.”
Mr Thomas said no documentation had been produced in court relating to North West Aero Engineering Services.
He said: “There was no such meeting after the stroke or official discussion as to the roles of the two sons.”
Geraint Pierce said he was sacked from the farm in September 2010 following an argument after a calf was put down. He said he returned to feed the cows on a temporary basis and this practice had ended before the break out.
John Pierce said following the harsh winter, food for the cows was running low and attempts had been made to buy stocks of hay but none was available in the area.
A submission by Ian Pierce’s defence team that he had no case to answer in relation to looking after the herd was rejected by district judge Andrew Shaw.