A GWENT cattle farmer who faked the identity of a beef heifer to get it accepted for human consumption has been ordered to pay almost £4,000 in fines and costs.

Gloucester magistrates heard that Clive Jenkins, of Abergavenny, was caught with the help of DNA checks on the beast, which would not have been allowed to enter the human food chain if its true identity was known.

Mr Jenkins of Plas Ivor, Cross Ash, was found guilty on Friday by the magistrates of four charges under the Trade Descriptions Act of falsely identifying a beef heifer with an ear tag and cattle passport belonging to another animal, and then offering to supply the heifer for processing at a slaughterhouse.

He pleaded guilty to a further charge under the Cattle Identification Regulations of moving the falsely identified animal from his farm.

The official vet at Lyes Abattoir, Minsterworth, near Gloucester, became suspicious of the ear tag found in the animal after it had been slaughtered. He informed Gloucestershire council trading standards, who started an investigation.

A DNA test later proved that the animal did not match its passport and that the animal was not eligible to enter the human food chain.

Ian Griffiths, the Veterinary Laboratories Agencies' senior veterinary pathologist, said the slit-shaped hole in the animals ear into which the tag had been inserted was man made and had been made while the beast was in Mr Jenkins' ownership.

Finding Mr Jenkins guilty the chairman of the magistratessaid: "This change of identity was a deliberate act."

Jenkins was fined £2,250 and ordered to pay £1,500 towards the council's costs.

Roger Marles, head of trading standards with the council, said afterwards: "Where individuals deliberately disregard the law designed to protect the human food chain and the integrity of the British beef industry the county council will not hesitate to prosecute.

"This investigation was carried out with the co-operation of the Meat Hygiene Service and the British Cattle Movement Service and demonstrates the partnership working that exists with these agencies."