Repeated shortcomings of Gävleborg farmers - bark for bark and were dirty with manure

All nine farms with cattle, either with milk or meat production. Common to all of them is that despite repeated checks, they have not addressed the shortcomings. For many, it has been recurring for many years.

Bonde 1

Following an incoming notification, the County Administrative Board conducted an animal welfare check on a farm in Hälsingland in September 2019. SVT Gävleborg and Assignment Review have reported in earlier reports about this farm which is an Arlagård. At the farm there were more than 200 dairy cows at the time of the inspection.

There, a number of serious shortcomings were noted. In the order, the farmer is urged to take immediate steps to ensure that all cattle reach an acceptable hole and ensure that the animals are kept in spaces that comply with the applicable measurement regulations. In a further check in November 2019, the farmer was instructed to ensure as soon as all the livestock, a hundred low-pregnant sinks, heifers and breeding bulls, are protected against the weather and wind, and a dry and clean berth and that all cattle are kept satisfactorily clean.  

The situation of the animals did not improve and after an inspection in January 2020, the farmer was fined a total of SEK 120,000 if the deficiencies were not rectified immediately. During the inspection, the farmer was asked to ensure that the cattle increased in holes, were cleaned and that sick or injured animals were given the necessary care or killed. 

In February, after SVT Gävleborg and Assignment Review examined the farm, the police were notified. The farmer is now suspected of, among other things, animal cruelty.

Bonde 2

After an incoming notification that animals are without food in the pasture and screaming, the County Administrative Board makes a check. At the site it is found that last year's calves have neither access to feed nor pasture. The owner states that they had been given food a few days ago. The County Administrative Board notes that the animals have eaten by the bark on the trees. 

In a pasture with cows and heifers there was also no feed and the grazing was completely over. The cows were in strong underhole with clearly visible ribs, spine and hip bones. It was also noted that one of the cows had bulbous nodules on the head and traces of blood in one nostril. The county administrative board believes that the veterinarian should have been contacted, something the animal owner had not done. 

As the circumstances indicated that the deficiencies had been going on for a long time and that the keeper was not considered willing to remedy the deficiencies, the County Administrative Board issued an immediate injunction.

Bonde 3

In previous inspections, the keeper has received a note that weather protection and dry berths are lacking for the animals. In pastures, debris was discovered that the County Administrative Board considered to be a risk of injury to the animals. The man asked the county administrative inspectors to leave the farm during the visit, which meant that they could not investigate in what condition the animals were in. 

Upon repeated inspection almost four months later, the County Administrative Board finds that the owner has not removed any objects and debris that may be harmful to the animals and a further decision to issue an order is issued to the man.

Bonde 4

When the County Administrative Board visits the man's farm, they find several animals that are very dirty and have so-called fertilizer armor on large areas of the bodies that risk a great suffering for the animals when the fur loses its insulating function and the dirt becomes corrosive to the skin. The animals' sleeping areas were dirty and messy, there was broken decor and too many animals on too small a surface. Outdoors it was noted that it was so messy that animals stood with mud up to their knees. This is despite the fact that the County Administrative Board pointed out the shortcomings in previous control. The keeper receives an order. 

In a follow-up check, four months later, the County Administrative Board finds that the keeper has not remedied the shortcomings regarding fertilizer-contaminated animals and dirty bedding. This was especially the case with the bulls that were on the farm. Other animals, the County Administrative Board found it difficult to overlook. The majority of the bulls had so-called fertilizer armor on the abdomen and thighs. The County Administrative Board decides to give the keeper a new injunction.

Bonde 5

In an earlier check, the County Administrative Board noted several animals that showed signs of abnormal movements and postures, unclean cows, unclothed clovers and one with poor holes. 

In a follow-up check, the County Administrative Board finds that several of the animals still had abnormal movements and postures. A cow had a hard time standing up. Several cows also had a so-called fertilizer armor on the thighs and abdomen which risked a great suffering for the animals. Dry and clean bedding was missing. A cow was still in a bad hole.

Bonde 6

The man has, after many checks, for several years, not improved the deficiencies presented by the County Administrative Board. They believe that his animals did not have access to the water required by the law, that calves did not have free access to feed, weather protection, dry and clean sleeping facilities for the animals that went outdoors.

Bonde 7/8

Following a follow-up animal welfare check, the County Administrative Board finds that the two keepers did not fix the problems that bulls went with for young heifers and that the stable had too low a roof height than is allowed.

Bonde 9

The County Administrative Board has, on several checks, alerted him to the fact that his animals do not have clean and dry lying surfaces. The majority of the animals had so-called fertilizer armor on the abdomen and thighs under the control of the County Administrative Board. As the man did not correct the shortcomings, an order was issued by the County Administrative Board.