After several cattle were found dead on two farms in Claiborne and Union counties, the owner was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

John Bullard, 68, was arrested Tuesday after authorities launched an investigation on both of his farms.

He is facing twelve misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in Claiborne County and sixty misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in Union county.

The investigation first began in Union County when almost a dozen cattle were found dead and others were found malnourished. The investigation was brought into Claiborne County on a farm in Speedwell where eight cows were found dead along with several other that were malnourished. Some were so malnourished they were not able to stand on their own.

“It was pitiful,” said Deputy Mike Coffey, “One cow was literally being propped up with a pallet so it could stand.”

Mike Heiskell, the State Agriculture Extension Officer for Claiborne County and the State of Tennessee are investigating both farms.

Deputy Mike Coffey with the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office arrested Bullard after he surrendered to authorities at his farm in Speedwell.

Deputy Coffey stated that one of the cows had fell down a hill and into a neighbors yard and they had notified Bullard on Sunday. Bullard told them that he would be back to take care of it but never showed back up. The neighbors have been caring for the cow by giving it food and water.

Davis Creek runs through the middle of the property in Speedwell and the state will be testing the water for any contamination since the creek flows into Blue Springs and into the mouth of Norris Lake.

According to Officer Coffey, a few neighbors and the farmers son, Tim Bullard are working on getting the cattle buried in a large hole that was dug on the top of a hill.

Coffey stated the son said the cows had died from old age but when authorities searched the farm, no food and very little water was found for several head of cattle.

Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office and Union County Sheriff’s Office are working together on the investigation along with the State Agriculture Extension Office.

The investigation is ongoing into whether the cows died from malnourishment.

Bullard was booked into the Claiborne County Jail on twelve counts of animal cruelty but was released to Union County on sixty counts of animal cruelty.

He will appear in a Claiborne County court on March 18.