A pair of cattle farmers who left their herd emaciated and living in squalid conditions have been told by a court they can only look after cats in future.
Brothers Archiebald, 72, and James Boreland, 70, were yesterday banned from keeping any animals - except cats - for the next five years by a sheriff and fined £2500.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis imposed a disqualification on owning or keeping animals on the duo after finding them both guilty of failing to look after their herd of 93 cows and calves properly.
But he granted an exemption to let the brothers keep domestic cats after being told they had both quit farming and shared ownership of two pet cats.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how vets had repeatedly found the herd at Abernyte Farm in Perthshire to be in a poor condition because they were not being adequately cared for.
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