A CEREDIGION County Council farm tenant has been fined almost £8,000 after admitting a string of breaches of regulations involving cattle.

Iwan Gruffydd James, of Fferm Pencaeau, Glynarthen, near Llanydsul, pleaded guilty to 16 charges of breaking regulations with magistrates hearing that some cows had been tagged with numbers that had been assigned to cattle that had died, that other animals had been tagged with numbers registered to cattle of the opposite sex and that animals had been moved from the farm to other land in contravention of movement regulations.

Magistrates heard that the charges ranged from failing to provide animal passports to inspectors, failing to notify authorities of cattle movement, failing to notify authorities of the death of cattle, applying tags that had already been used on different animals and failing to register an animal within the required timeframe.

Council prosecutor Maggie Hughes said authorities became aware of problems following a visit to Fferm Pencaeau and animal passports were missing.

An animal welfare officer discovered that James, 42, was also keeping animals at another location.

Checks there discovered that animals had been tagged using tags assigned to other animals, some cattle had not been registered at all and others had been moved despite being subject to documents that only allow movement under specific circumstances.

Ms Hughes said several animals were registered as having been born in July 2016, but were presented for TB testing in 2015 and February 2016 according to records.

Other animals were registered as specific breeds, but checks showed they were not the correct animals. Ms Hughes said four cows were registered as the wrong sex.

Defence solicitor Aled Owen told magistrates that James accepted that a number of errors had been made in terms of registration and meeting regulations.

He said James also worked in cattle genetics and was very busy with that work meaning he had often left his wife in charge of paperwork and registration.

Mr Owen said things spiralled out of control after one error and James feels guilty for not being there to provide support and assistance for his wife.

Magistrates heard that James was concerned that his tenancy on the council farm could be ended and said his reputation in agriculture had been affected by the case.

Mr Owen said James was planning on downsizing the farm and asking his eldest son to take more responsibility in terms of dealing with paperwork.

Despite considering imposing a community order, magistrates fined James a total of £7,990.

He will also pay costs to the council of £1,558.27 and a surcharge of £66.50.