The SPCA is investigating allegations of animal neglect and cruelty at a dairy farm in St. George's which provides the Island with a significant portion of its milk.

According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, some cows on the farm have fallen ill due to starvation, and many of the 100 or so animals including horses, ducks, chickens and goats live in unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

The SPCA has been investigating the farm since March and have gathered photographic evidence of swampy green water the animals have to drink and cows being chained to car parts and trees.

The animal protection organisation believes there is enough evidence to file a formal lawsuit against farm owner Paul Almeida, who has allegedly made only "minimal changes" to the farm since they began their investigation six months ago.

They will give him one to two weeks to comply with the latest conditions and then may be forced to take legal action.

Since February, the SPCA has received more than 24 calls from members of the public concerning two farms owned by Mr. Almeida one in St. George's and another in Devonshire.

SPCA director Kim Sherlaw, chairperson Andrew Madeiros and investigator Beaman Smith visited both farms on Tuesday.

They say the Devonshire property has improved, but the St. George's farm was still a major concern.

Ms Sherlaw said: "We watched... as two cows stood back and did not get anything to eat as well as a baby calf who did not get anything to eat.

"Multiple calves, upwards of ten, were tied to car parts, trees (and) various pieces of junk in the yard."

Mr. Almeida denied the beasts were starving.

He told The Royal Gazette: "It happened a couple of months ago that I was short-staffed and yes, there was a lot of pressure against me I was running two dairy farms. But they were never starving because I always give grain and hay to feed them."

Mr. Almeida added that he now has two new full-time employees to help him run the farms.

And he insisted people are just misinformed about what dairy cows should look like.

"These cows are called Holsteins, you can feed them, feed them and feed them and they will never put on weight because they are bred to feed their energy into their milking.

"You know beef cows are the ones that are bred to put on the weight."

He continued: "People don't know what they are. I've had two vets come in, the whole dairy farming board say they look in good condition for dairy cows.

"I've tried to explain it to them (the SPCA) but there is a Dr. Madeiros who hasn't been around a cow in 20-plus years. And I don't think he knows what he is talking about and the condition of my cows."

The SPCA presented photographs showing several underweight cows with visible ribs and protruding hips.

According to Ms Sherlaw all cows are being fed in one trough and the smaller, weaker and less assertive cows are not getting food.

And she said in the past few months some animals have died due to starvation.

"I do know there were smaller animals that were not able to get food, that were also victims of safety hazards within the animal enclosures that died due to negligence."

The SPCA has only asked the farmer to make small changes, she said: cleaning up glass bottles, debris and barbed wire that could injure the animals, separating the cows according to size to make sure they all have access to enough food and providing the animals with adequate clean water and shade.

For the past six months the organisation and Government have been working to get experienced farmers on to the facility and give Mr. Almeida some guidance.

The SPCA maintains he has not taken these requests seriously and claims that during one visit Mr. Almeida signed a document, then tore it up.

Ms Sherlaw said: "In terms of the care of the animals specifically we have watched animals die and we very much want to avoid this and move forward.

"We can't sit back idly and wait for a group response because we are still getting these complaints. I think we have presented a valid argument to Mr. Almeida and I don't think he has taken it seriously."

Government is also looking into the allegations.

Said Environmental Protection director Frederick Ming: "We are a little disappointed with the slow rate of progress we have seen at that farm.

"We have a veterinarian officer, the person for animal husbandry, and he has been busy working very diligently with (the farmer) who is new to cattle farming (to) assist him through this learning curve."