Farming couple deny they ‘over-stretched’ themselves
A FARMING couple denied they had ‘over-stretched’ themselves at the time they are accused of failing to look after their sheep.
Ben, 43, and Hannah Wallace, 39, of La Port, La Grande Lande, St Saviour’s are jointly charged with four offences under the animal welfare legislation. They deny all matters.
The Magistrate’s Court has been hearing how a man living near a St Andrew’s field used by the Wallaces called the GSPCA on the evening of 21 September 2019 with concerns about the welfare of a flock of some 70 sheep.
It is alleged that the couple failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the sheep were free from pain, injury, disease and thirst. Two lambs were dead in the field.
Mrs Wallace told the court how they had between 200 and 300 sheep at the time. They were split into batches across four to six fields at sites including near the Reservoir, L’Eree and Talbot Valley.
They now had about 15 sheep, as they had had to give others away.
They had also just bought a herd of some 80 dairy cattle at the time.
The court was shown photographs which the defence said showed how much Mr and Mrs Wallace cared for their animals. Mrs Wallace said their animals had won just about everything at The West Show that year.
Prosecuting Advocate Jenny McVeigh said it was not being suggested that the couple did not care for their animals at all and the charges related to a specific weekend.
‘Is it right to say that you had a lot going on in September 2019?’ she asked Mrs Wallace.
Mrs Wallace said it was hard going but they were managing fine. Somebody came to help them but only when he was available.
The matter had been reported on Saturday 21 September when States veterinary officer David Chamberlain had attended.
Two independent witnesses said the water barrels in the field had been bone dry.
Mrs Wallace said she had been present when the sheep had been moved to the field from another one the previous Wednesday.
She could not remember if she had gone to the field again before the complaint was made.
She had not filled the water barrels on the Friday or Saturday but thought her husband might have.
Advocate McVeigh asked Mrs Wallace why, if two of the sheep had been infected with flystrike for which she said they had treated them, both had maggot infestations when Mr Chamberlain went to the field.
Mrs Wallace said it was because the sheep were dead and would have been emitting various gases.
She had not noticed any problem with the sheep whilst they were being moved on the Wednesday and said she would of done if there had been any.
The case continues.
