Farmer accused of concealing years of cattle injuries after legs severed on unsafe drinkers

A farmer in northern Finland is facing charges of animal welfare violations after dozens of cattle suffered severe injuries—including severed legs—due to unsafe drinking troughs on his farm, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports. The farmer denies the allegations, which were presented in Oulu District Court on Monday.

According to prosecutors, the injuries occurred after protective arches were installed over drinking troughs on the North Ostrobothnia farm roughly a decade ago. Cattle legs became trapped in the structures, leading to deep lacerations and, in some cases, complete amputation. Several animals had to be euthanised as a result.

The farmer is accused of concealing the deaths by failing to report the culling to the national cattle registry, preventing authorities from discovering the cause. The unsafe conditions were only uncovered during a routine inspection by a supervisory veterinarian in 2023—by which time the problematic setup had allegedly been in use for over eight years.

In addition to animal welfare violations, the farmer faces charges of creating a risk of spreading animal disease. Prosecutors claim he improperly handled and disposed of carcasses and byproducts, including dumping waste in an outdoor pit on the property and feeding some remains to dogs off-site, both in violation of regulations.

The prosecution is seeking a suspended prison sentence or substantial fine. The defendant denies all charges. The court will issue its ruling at a later date.