Devon farmers banned from keeping cattle for decade

They have to give up cattle too

A family of livestock and dairy farmers have been banned from keeping cattle, sheep and pigs for 10 years, and each ordered to pay more than £3,000 in costs for causing suffering to animals in their care.

In a prosecution brought by Heart of the South West Trading Standards, Edward Dunn, 79, Rosemund Dunn, 76, and their son William Dunn, 50, of Underdown Farm, Exbourne, pleaded guilty to dozens of animal welfare offences at Exeter Magistrates Court Thursday 26 June.

The offences took place across Underdown Farm and East Barton Farm – the farms are adjacent and have approximately 170 cattle.

They are jointly owned by Edward and Rosamond Dunn while William is responsible for the day-to-day running of both.

William Dunn pleaded guilty to 24 offences, including six of causing an animal to suffer unnecessarily across their two farms, while Edward and Rosamund Dunn pleaded guilty to 10 charges each of failing to ensure the welfare of animals.

The court heard that trading standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency inspected the farms several times between 2023 and 2025 and found lame cows untreated, vulnerable calves surrounded by broken bicycles, piles of rubbish, gas canisters and broken bottles and livestock with no shelter, food or water.

On one occasion they found a cow lying down in a field; she was soaking wet, shivering from pain and cold and unable to stand. Cattle were found standing in knee deep slurry with no feed other than wrapped bales and they had to eat through plastic to feed.  

One young heifer was found injured from being picked up in a tractor bucket. No vet had been called and no treatment given.

A baby calf was found in a small hutch; it was unresponsive with laboured breathing. It had not received any treatment, and it died.

During each visit officers found dead cattle in cubicles or partially buried in areas where livestock had access, which increased the risk of disease.

Each time the Dunn’s were given clear advice, detailing what was wrong and what they needed to do. And on each occasion the advice was ignored.

Alex Fry, Operations Manager for Heart of the South West trading Standards, said: “The conditions in which these animals were kept fell well below acceptable welfare standards.  The Dunn’s failure to follow our advice left us with no alternative but to take formal action against them in the courts.

"We have a duty to ensure that animal welfare standards are complied with.”

Councillor Simon Clist, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for trading Standards, and a farmer, said: “While taking action like this is often the last resort, trading standards will take appropriate action to ensure that animals are kept in a safe and healthy environment.

“Farming is a large part of our economy, and the continuing welfare of animals is a priority for the service and of concern to the wider public.

“I understand how difficult farming can be but please, if you are a farmer and you are struggling, seek help; there is support available. Because if you don’t you could be putting your livelihood at risk.”