A dairy farmer threatened with closure after neighbours complained of foul odours and spillage of animal waste has taken steps to tackle the problem.

Paul Almeida, of Green Land Dairy Farm in Smith’s, also introduced measures to improve the quality of milk from his herd after public health tests found samples to be “unsatisfactory”.

Details were obtained by The Royal Gazette after a Public Access to Information request on the farm, said to be the island’s top supplier of milk.

Mr Almeida faced losing his licence after environmental health officials discovered that milk “presented elevated levels of standard plate count and somatic cell count”.

The cell counts refer to white blood cells, which are produced by the body to fight infections. A high count is typically a red flag, indicating dairy cows are being exposed to sub-par conditions.

In a letter to Mr Almeida in January, Armell Thomas, the Chief Environmental Health Officer, said: “As a result of the raw milk analysis findings, I am considering whether I should exercise my discretion to suspend your licence, make representations to the Minister of Health regarding the suspension or revocation of your licence, or whether conditions should be imposed on your licence.”

Mr Almeida later met health officials to discuss and review plans to improve standards.

Area residents also expressed their concerns to Mr Thomas in January.

The farm has racked up more than a thousand complaints from neighbours for foul odours and spillage of animal waste in the last five years.

Mr Almeida subsequently contacted health officials to confirm that new equipment will reduce manure pit sewage levels, runoff, and odours.

In a letter of response, the farmer said: “I plan on bringing in a sewage truck to empty the pit on a regular basis and keep the manure level down at all times.

“I feel once I have this truck, I feel I will eliminate some of the smell on the pit.

“Concerning the runoff onto the railway trail, I took the initiative to rent an excavator. Digging on the berm and levelling the area where the runoff occurred were completed.

“This adjustment not only halted rainwater from flowing into the trail but also reduced water seepage into the berm.”

Mr Almeida, who declined to comment when contacted by the Gazette, emphasised that he would still need to spray his fields with manure several times a year as his cows are grass fed.

The farmer highlighted that he also installed a new milking system to address concerns about the quality of his herd’s yield.

He said: “Our new system will detect when a cow is sick, when she is in heat, how much milk she produces in one milking, and most importantly, somatic cell count or any other disease.”

Mr Almeida said that his cows each wear a collar with a chip that is linked to a computer, which analyses the cows and their milk.

In another effort to raise standards on his farm, Mr Almeida hired a qualified dairy farmer and vet from overseas.

Mr Almeida wrote back to health officials: “I have high hopes for him and my farm. He has come highly recommended to me and is aware of the problems that have arisen on the farm, with the quality of milk. He feels that we can prevent any issues in the future.”

Mr Almeida added: “I have also spoken to my other two employees and advised them that I will monitor the quality of milk going forward, as my licence to operate the farm is very much at risk. This all depends on the quality of milk going forward.”