A FARMER has been banned from keeping livestock for two years after cattle and sheep were found living in atrocious conditions, with carcasses lying where they had fallen.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court Kerry McKenzie pled guilty to animal welfare and animal identification offences. He was given an 80-hour community payback order and was fined £640.

At his farm in the Newmachar area, Aberdeenshire Council animal welfare inspectors found livestock sheltering in dilapidated buildings and scrap-metal piles and wading in deep mud. Animals had insufficient feed and bedding and lay amid piles of wet muck. Record keeping was severely neglected.

Despite warnings, McKenzie failed to improve matters.