The head of the Nature Agency Kronjylland, forester Peter Brostrøm, and a former operations manager have been found guilty of neglecting cattle in Mols Bjerge and sentenced to suspended prison sentences of three months each. The verdict was delivered Wednesday at the Court in Randers.

The charges stemmed from the neglect of 76 cattle grazing on the Nature Agency Kronjylland’s land between November 2020 and February 2021.

The court determined that the defendants failed to provide adequate instructions to staff regarding feed allocation and did not conduct the necessary supervision to ensure the grazing was conducted in a manner consistent with animal welfare standards.

According to the indictment, several animals were severely emaciated, with visible ribs and sharp hip corners, and some cows had aborted dead calves due to malnutrition. The cattle subsisted on grass, leaves, bark, and gorse throughout the winter before being moved to stables and given supplementary feed in February 2021.

A report from the herd veterinarian in mid-February described the animals’ condition as “below all criticism” and a “gross violation of animal welfare law“.

The case originated on March 5, 2021, when a police report was filed against the Nature Agency Kronjylland, leading to an inspection by the police and the Food Agency. A subsequent police investigation resulted in charges against the Nature Agency, Peter Brostrøm, and the operations manager.

Prior to the trial, the Nature Agency agreed to pay a fine of DKK 800,000. Director of the Nature Agency Peter Ilsøe called it a “serious and unfortunate case”, adding that the agency has “learned a lot from the process“, including initiating further employee training, creating contingency plans for food shortages, and establishing a welfare assessment system.

While both defendants pleaded not guilty, Special Prosecutor Katrine Klausen expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that “the two defendants have essentially been found guilty in accordance with the indictment” and that she is “satisfied that the court assesses that the two can be held criminally responsible“.

Peter Brostrøm’s defense lawyer has announced plans to appeal the judgment for acquittal. The lawyer for the operations manager, who has since retired, has acknowledged the judgment. Brostrøm has been suspended since the charges were filed.