60,000 euros fine, 20,000 of which suspended, one year ban on keeping animals.
This was the verdict delivered by the Brest court against two pig farmers.
The sentences applied against these two companies owned by Dominique Kerdoncuff are in accordance with the requisitions of the Prosecutor's Office issued at the beginning of February.
This trial follows the complaint filed in November 2019 by L214 against Sarl Kerdoncuff and Scea de Trébeolin.
These two pig farm sites located south of Brest are accused by the animal defense association of mistreatment of the farms.
In 2019, the organization broadcast a video showing dirty buildings, animals trapped in cages, in distress, injured or dead.
The investigation carried out by the gendarmerie and the Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP) confirms the findings made by L214: some sows had necrotic wounds and bedsores, the animals did not have access to fresh water and to care… During several unannounced checks in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the same findings were made.
Loïc Gouyet thus pointed out the repeated failures of the two pig companies at the bar: “This is the first file where, after four years, I cannot attest to the conformity of this breeding”.
“We can’t put animals through everything”
L214, who became a civil party in this trial, saw his complaint declared admissible.
The two companies involved will therefore have to pay the association 6,000 euros in compensation.
One of the two companies, Sarl Kerdoncuff, was also fined an additional 4,500 euros for violations linked to non-compliance with formal notices.
The deliberation was welcomed with joy by L214.
One of the association's lawyers, Me Caroline Lanty, speaks of a “strong signal” sent by the courts.
She adds: “We cannot put animals through everything and that is what justice meant by adding this additional penalty of banning the keeping of animals for one year.”
The farm manager and his lawyer Me Le Blanc did not wish to react to the outcome of the verdict.