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More on KentOnline
Demonstrators have been protesting outside a farm where a bull had to be put down last week.
The picket at Oak Farm in Halstead, near Sevenoaks, attracted around 20 people, a mixture of supporters of the Kent Animal Defenders and neighbours.
They accuse the farmer Craig Sargent of failing to care for his animals properly, an accusation that he has vigorously denied.
The latest incident, in which a bull was left lying in mud unable to get up for more than 24 hours after breaking its hock, has sparked an online petition demanding that the Government's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)shut the farm down.
The petition has received more than 40,000 signatures.
There have been previous incidents at the farm in Clarks Lane. In December last year, neighbours were horrified to see two cows die in the field.
Mr Sargent has been farming since 1985, and currently has another 35 cows and three bulls.
He had previously been given a five-year ban from keeping animals in 2007 after a conviction for not trimming a bull's hooves.
That ban has now expired.
One of the protesters, Lynn Hamilton-Berré, said: "We wanted to show our concern and draw attention to the suffering of the animals and to let Mr Sargent know that we will no longer overlook his behaviour.
"We intend to keep up the pressure on the relevant authorities, mainly APHA, DEFRA and the RSPCA, as well as our local MP, Laura Trott, who has promised to do what she can to help.
"Our aim is to keep the issue in the spotlight for as long as is needed until the farm is permanently shut down. The suffering has gone on for way too long."
The demonstrators arrived around 2pm and left about 3.30pm.
They had informed the police in advance of their intention, but there was no police presence.
Mrs Hamilton-Berre said: "Almost every car that passed us beeped in support and many stopped to thank us for our efforts.
"Numerous neighbours also came out to offer support and told us how difficult it has been living opposite the farm."
She said the protesters wore face-masks and stayed within their family bubbles.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency had previously said it was aware of the incident with the bull at the farm, but would not comment on specific investigations.
A spokesman said: "Where welfare regulations are breached, appropriate action is always taken.”
Mr Sargent maintained that he had called a vet to the bull on Friday and had acted under her advice. The bull was eventually shot on Saturday afternoon after the vet's attempts to euthanise it with anaesthetics failed.
He said: "Some of the claims these people are making on social media are just outrageous and a lot stem from ignorance.
"I've had people throwing food over the fence thinking they are feeding my cattle. What they are actually doing is introducing the possibility of disease through contaminated food."
He said: "Someone even threw over an oven-roasted chicken! They don't even know cows don't eat meat."
Denying that his welfare standards were inadequate, Mr Sargent said: "I refute that completely. I have regular inspections by the APHA and they are happy.
"The demonstrators are the ones breaking the law, gathering together during the Covid lockdown."
