68-year-old convicted of mistreating 400 pigs

A 68-year-old man was found guilty on Friday at the Court in Odense of a range of violations of animal welfare legislation, including mistreatment of approximately 400 pigs.

The convicted man is the daily manager of a large farm in northern Funen.

The charges described a total of 67 offenses of varying nature committed between January 2021 and April 2024, involving hundreds of individuals. The manager, who has not been present in court sessions, has been found guilty of numerous violations of animal welfare legislation, including mistreatment of around 400 pigs. Mistreatment is the most serious category of violations concerning the disregard for animal welfare.

The business, which housed cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and pigs, was intended to preserve and protect old Danish livestock breeds.

Despite frequent inspections by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the police resulting in repeated guidance and orders, the violations have continued.

The Court in Odense sentenced the 68-year-old manager to 9 months in prison, of which 3 months are to be served. The remaining 6 months are set as conditional and converted to 120 hours of community service.

Additionally, he has been disqualified from having contact with animals for a period of 5 years from the final judgment. The defendant must relinquish his animals no later than 1st August this year.

The parties involved have 14 days to consider a possible appeal to the Eastern High Court.