ROGER AND ROSEMARY KEEN FARMERS FROM BROMHAM FACE £25,000 FINE OVER PIG ABUSE SCANDAL

In a significant case highlighting animal welfare violations, farmers Roger Keen, born June 1941, and his wife Rosemary Keen, born September 1943, of Sandridge Farm in Bromham, near Chippenham, have been found guilty of allowing systematic neglect and abuse of pigs and piglets on their farm. The case, brought forward by Wiltshire Council, resulted in the couple’s company, Roger Keen Farms Ltd, being fined a substantial £25,000 after they pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of animal welfare laws.

In August 2021, a team of council animal health officers, accompanied by a Senior Veterinary Inspector (SVI) from the Animal & Plant Health Agency, conducted an inspection of Sandridge Farm. During this visit, they discovered 15 pigs suffering from various health issues. The severity of the situation prompted the SVI to request that five of these pigs be euthanized immediately to prevent further suffering. The post-mortem examinations revealed that four of the five animals had joint lesions of a chronic nature, indicating that these injuries and conditions had been present for several days. These findings pointed to a significant level of ongoing suffering experienced by the animals while alive.

During interviews with officers, Roger Keen attempted to shift blame onto his employees, claiming that the failings at the farm were due to their actions. However, evidence collected during the investigation painted a different picture, suggesting that overcrowding and a lack of experienced staff were major contributing factors to the poor conditions. It was noted that the farm had ceased keeping pigs in 2022, possibly in response to the ongoing issues.

Expert witness Sophia Hepple, a specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law from the Royal College of Veterinary Science, provided testimony for the prosecution. She stated that Mr. Keen was responsible for multiple instances of permitting unnecessary suffering among the pigs under his care. She detailed the unsanitary and unhygienic conditions of the farm’s housing, which posed risks of injury and disease. She also highlighted the absence of environmental enrichment, which led to serious problems such as tail biting, ear biting, and cannibalism among the pigs. Notably, there was no evidence to justify tail docking, as no records were kept of tail biting incidents or efforts to improve the pigs’ environment to prevent such behaviors.

One of the most critical issues identified was the failure to act promptly on animals that were ill or injured. Despite the presence of veterinary advice and direct requests from authorities, the farm staff did not isolate, treat, or euthanize the animals in a timely manner. Many pigs suffered for weeks without intervention, and there was a clear neglect of the animals’ welfare. The prosecution highlighted that even when the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) explicitly requested euthanasia for some animals, the staff appeared reluctant or unwilling to comply, prolonging the animals’ suffering unnecessarily.

This case underscores the importance of strict adherence to animal welfare standards and the consequences of neglecting these responsibilities. The court’s decision to impose a £25,000 fine on Roger Keen Farms Ltd serves as a stark reminder of the legal and ethical obligations farmers have towards their livestock, especially in regions like Bromham and Chippenham where agricultural practices are deeply rooted in the community.