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Agricultural industry

Devon Family Banned from Keeping Livestock after Animal Welfare Offences

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A family of dairy farmers in Devon have been banned from keeping cattle, sheep, and pigs for ten years after causing suffering to animals in their care. Edward Dunn, 79, Rosemund Dunn, 76, and their son William Dunn, 50, pleaded guilty to dozens of animal welfare offences at Exeter Magistrates Court. The court heard that trading standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency inspected the farms several times between 2023 and 2025 and found numerous instances of animal suffering, including lame cows, vulnerable calves, and livestock with no shelter, food, or water.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Dunn family, including Edward, Rosemund, and William, pleaded guilty to dozens of animal welfare offences at Exeter Magistrates Court.
  • The offences took place across Underdown Farm and East Barton Farm, which are adjacent and have approximately 170 cattle.
  • Trading standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency inspected the farms several times between 2023 and 2025 and found instances of animal suffering, including lame cows, vulnerable calves, and livestock with no shelter, food, or water.
  • William Dunn pleaded guilty to 24 offences, including six of causing an animal to suffer unnecessarily, while Edward and Rosamund Dunn pleaded guilty to 10 charges each of failing to ensure the welfare of animals.
  • The family was given clear advice on what was wrong and what they needed to do on each occasion, but they ignored the advice.
  • District Judge Smith said that the Dunn's had repeatedly ignored warnings and there were 'repeated failures to ensure the welfare of cattle'.
  • The family has been banned from keeping livestock for ten years, which could cause damage to the reputation of the dairy industry in Devon.

Statistics:

  • The farms, Underdown Farm and East Barton Farm, have approximately 170 cattle.
  • The-number of animal welfare offences the Dunn family pleaded guilty to is not specified, but it is mentioned that there were dozens of offences.
  • The number of times the farms were inspected by trading standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency is not specified, but it is mentioned that inspections took place several times between 2023 and 2025.
  • The number of cows found lame and untreated is not specified.
  • The number of calves found vulnerable and surrounded by broken bicycles is not specified.

Sources:

  • Dawlish-Today.co.uk: "Devon Shops Ordered to Close for Selling Illegal Tobacco and Vapes"
  • Dawlish-Today.co.uk: "More Special Educational Needs Assessment Requests Made in Devon -- as Charity Warns of "Disastrous" Waits Across England"
  • Dawlish-Today.co.uk: "Do You Struggle to Charge Your Electric Vehicle Without a Driveway?"
  • Dawlish-Today.co.uk: "Major Children in Care Overhaul Aiming to Keep More Kids in County"

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