A local farm is under question after the carcass of one of its cows was found dumped uncovered in a shallow ditch on property at the popular nature spot Spittal Pond.

Green Land Farm has cattle located at the Smith’s site, part of which is owned by the Government, but the animal was left to rot on adjoining property that is managed by the Bermuda National Trust.

The farm’s owner, Paul Almeida, told The Royal Gazette he was off the island but that the issue was being dealt with.

A government spokeswoman said last night: “Officers from the Department of Health and DENR are jointly investigating this matter.

“Both the Public Health Act 1949, Section 168, and the Agriculture (Control of Animal Diseases) Regulations 1947 contain provisions relevant to the disposal of animal carcasses.”

Myles Darrell, the head of natural heritage at the BNT, was alerted to the remains by one of the charity’s volunteers. He said judging by the smell and state of the animal, it had likely been there for at least a week.

Mr Darrell told The Royal Gazette: “You can smell it from South Road and, oh my god, it smells horrendous. It must have been there for over a week.

“It’s upsetting to see. It’s not covered up. It’s not pleasant and the live animals were right beside it. I’m sure they are disturbed by it. The dead cow looked like it was a young cow.

“This is not an area where people should be but there are a lot of birders who come by who may see it. We [the BNT] have volunteers who check on trees that are planted there and that’s is how we were alerted to it.

“I talked to the farm owner today because we need it rectified.”

Mr Almeida told The Royal Gazette when contacted by phone: “I’m off island and my guys are dealing with it.”

Mr Darrell said the animal was placed in a berm ditch the charity built to stop the run-off from the farm, particularly the slurry that comes from the cattle, entering the pond.

He said: “The slurry causes eutrophication in the pond, so the water gets heavy with nitrogen and causes algal blooms. It’s not good for the life in the pond as it uses the oxygen to develop, and that creates an anoxic environment.”

Carlos Amaral, the chairman of the Bermuda Farmers’ Association, said the group did not tend to deal with issues related to dairy farming and that the government veterinarian and agricultural board would likely be responsible for tackling them.

He said it was his understanding that dead animals, including cattle and pets, should be transported to the Marsh Folly composting facility for disposal.

Kim Smith, the executive director of the Bermuda Environmental Task Force, was also aware of the issue. She said: “The cow died last week and was put in a shallow hole that was dug on the side of the site that is the BNT's, and was not even covered up.

“It is there now, a week after it was first reported to a contact of mine. The farmer is clearly not caring for those animals if it has been dead there for a week, and who dug the hole on the BNT side of the site?”

The farm has amassed more than a thousand complaints from neighbours for foul odours and spillage of animal waste in the past six years.

Mr Almeida contacted health officials to confirm that new equipment would reduce manure pit sewage levels, run-off and odours. The farm was made subject to certain conditions in order to continue operation.