Animals taken from squalid farm

Cattle were seized in the raid

Hundreds of animals have been removed from a County Down farm where they were being kept in squalid conditions.

It follows the discovery of a "mass grave" of more than 40 animals on the Ballyroney Road near Katesbridge on Thursday.

A judge granted a disposal order at Newry Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Almost 300 pigs, 15 cattle and one dog are going to new homes. However, the Department of Agriculture said four pigs should be destroyed.

The owner of the land said the animals belonged to a tenant who had leased the property, the court heard.

A police officer told the court he had spoken to a Gilford farmer whose herd number was found on 15 cattle. He said this man had denied any knowledge of the cows.

The magistrate said the Department of Agriculture should investigate the improper use of tagging numbers to identify herds.

He said any profits made from the sale of livestock should go to the USPCA.

The farm was raided by the animal charity and police on Thursday after a tip-off that animals were being kept in cruel conditions.

The police have now taken away several items found at the site to try to establish who was responsible for the condition in which the animals were found.