A farmer who let 160 pigs starve to death was sentenced to one and a half years' probation and forbidden from owning animals for three years by a German court Tuesday.
The 44-year-old farmer had turned "the one-time model business into a barn of horrors," said judge Wilfried Johann, DPA reported.
Investigators had discovered 100 dead pigs in the barn of the farm in the eastern German town of Forst in February, after receiving an anonymous tip-off. Another 60 animals were found dead in the forest. Many had turned to eating one another as they grew ever hungrier.
"He was out of his depth with the entire operation," said Johann, noting that the farmer was also facing financial problems due to debts of around 600,000 euros (848,500 dollars).
Investigators had also discovered a herd of cows on the farm suffering from malnutrition and a lack of water.
The farmer is still working, but is now limited to raising crops.
Farmer sentenced for allowing 160 pigs to starve to death
A farmer who let 160 pigs starve to death was sentenced to one and a half years' probation and forbidden from owning animals for three years by a German court Tuesday.
