A DAIRY farmer has urged Islanders not to fly-tip in agricultural fields after a heifer died when it ingested a chemical substance which had allegedly been dumped over a wall.
Fourth-generation farmer Becky Houzé, who runs Oaklands Farm at Victoria Village, is still appealing for information about the alleged fly-tipper, after one of her animals was found dead on her land on Monday afternoon.
She said that what was “most shocking” was that the individual had “dumped their waste while the animals were in the field and in good view”, which she said showed “a lack of thought and education”.
The white salt-like substance, she added, had been sent to the UK for identification, and she expected the results in two weeks.
She added that a veterinary clinic had conducted a post-mortem examination on the heifer.
Speaking to the JEP, Ms Houzé said: “Unfortunately, things like this happen all the time.
“Our fields are our cows’ grazing places, so people think it’s alright to tip their grass clippings into a field, and it will just compost and there’s no harm in it.
“Actually, grass clippings can kill a horse or a cow. Weeds are also really dangerous to animals, and especially chemicals, which was the case this time.”
She continued: “The same goes for dogs. Our fields are not a place for dog walkers to let their animals roam freely. Dogs can carry neospora [a type of disease] which can make livestock infertile or cause them to miscarry, if it’s passed on.
“Dog walkers are not doing it maliciously, they are just uneducated.”
She added that a few Islanders had come forward with information, but said: “There’s nothing that we can do that can bring that animal back. It’s very unfortunate for us, and it was a very good heifer that we lost.
“However, moving forward, we can take this an an opportunity to re-educate homeowners and gardeners that agricultural fields are not a place for fly-tipping of your lawn waste and especially not your chemical waste.”
