Nébih revealed shocking deficiencies in animal health and animal welfare at a cattle farm in the county of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén

By: STA Date: 2023. 05. 18. 09:00

The inspectors of the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) took action in April 2023 at a livestock keeper in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county due to seriously and multiple illegal animal husbandry practices. Cattle were illegally kept at the site without notification, during which the animal health, epidemic prevention and animal welfare requirements were not met. Nébih initiated official proceedings against the keepers of the animals, which is still ongoing.

(Photo: Nébih)

The Nébih inspectors were faced with conditions that put even the professionals to the test at a location in the county of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén. Animal husbandry activities were not reported on the inspected “farm”, and those seen there did not meet the legal requirements either, so the Nébih inspectors ordered a traffic restriction with immediate effect. The reason for the measure is, among other things, the unknown animal health status of the herd, the lack of traceability and mandatory records. Basic documents such as the herd register, medical treatment, feeding and visit log were missing, but there was also no written contract with the veterinarian for the provision of veterinary health supervision of the animals. The basic infrastructural conditions (e.g. vehicle disinfectant, black-and-white changing room, quarantine barn, place suitable for dissection, manure storage) were not provided at the site.

In addition, the professionals experienced serious violations of animal protection and welfare requirements

There were no weather-proof facilities (barn, semi-roof) on the site, nor were natural conditions provided for the animals (sufficient amount of wood, hedges) to partially compensate for this. The animals were fed with fodder heavily contaminated with mold, and the fenced area for grazing was devoid of vegetation, trampled, muddy and soggy. During the inspection of the “settlement”, the inspectors found 3 cow carcasses covered with straw, including an unmarked one, as well as 10 calf carcasses in various states of decomposition and other animal body parts. The experts ordered animal protection obligations regarding the keeping and feeding of the animals, and official proceedings were initiated against the animal keepers. The procedure and the determination of the fine are ongoing. Since the violations also raised the suspicion of a crime, the inspectors of the office notified the local police station, who also went to the scene.

We recommend the following sources of information on the subject: The data of the person concerned is available on the infringement list. Photo and video recordings taken during the inspection can be viewed on Nébih’s website.

Nébih