Farmers in Oxfordshire have been told to keep precise records of their cattle to prevent any further outbreak of mad cow disease, writes David Horne.

The warning comes from the county's trading standards department following the prosecution of a west Oxfordshire farmer. Colin Timms, of Uphill Farm, Crawley, near Witney, received a two years' conditional discharge and was ordered to pay 750 prosecution costs at Witney Magistrates' Court.

He pleaded guilty to eight charges brought under the 1998 Cattle Identification Regulations, a measure brought in to ensure the traceability of livestock following the BSE outbreak.

The trading standards department, which brought the prosecution, offered no evidence on eight other matters dealing with cattle at the farm.

Yesterday, Graham Jones, senior department officer, said the strict regulations were essential to prevent the potential spread of BSE.

He said: "They are tight controls to protect the public. It is essential that cattle are properly tagged and identified and that accurate records are kept of age, ancestry and move- ment.

"Farmers like Mr Timms may not deliberately flout the law. Our message is 'don't let things, including all the necessary paperwork, get into a mess'.

Contact us for help.

"We do undertake routine visits but livestock holders have to be aware of their responsiblities."

Timms admitted the following: two charges of failing to apply for cattle passports, three charges of failing to record the movement of cattle, failing to record the date of birth of a bovine, and two further charges of failing to apply identity ear tags.

The case came to light after a member of the public noticed that some of the animals on the farm were not ear tagged and reported it to the police.