A LAMB was blinded because a sheep farmer failed to prevent the animal’s horns growing into its eyes.

An animal health officer from Ceredigion County Council found the ram lamb walking around a field in circles on land at Tanycastell, Rhydyfelin.

The lamb’s horns had been allowed to grow into its eyes leaving it blind. It is normal practice for farmers to trim sheep’s horns when there is a risk they may grow inwards.

The animal had been suffering for weeks but it had made a full recovery after it was rescued, Aberystwyth magistrates were told.

The animal’s owner, 76-year-old Lewis Jones, was also found guilty of letting his flock suffer from sheep scab. One sheep was suffering so badly that an expert described it as “the worst case of sheep scab he had ever seen”.

The animal had lost most of its fleece and had little protection from the weather during some of the coldest and wettest times of the year.

Animal health officers from Ceredigion County Council (CCC) had been alerted to the issues following a complaint from the public.

Jones, who has been farming all his life, was convicted of two charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 of causing unnecessary suffering to sheep in his care. He was fined £200 for each offence and told to pay £2,564 of prosecution costs along with a £30 victim surcharge.

Sentencing him, district Judge John Parsons told him that his flock inspections were inadequate.

Speaking after the case, Huw Williams, of Ceredigion County Council, said the majority of farmers work hard to ensure that the highest possible welfare standards for their livestock.

“Our animal health officers work with the local farmers and the agricultural community in general to ensure that good animal welfare standards are maintained in the county,’’ said Mr Williams.

“Unfortunately, there are instances where the husbandry and welfare standards fall far short of what is acceptable.”