Farmers starved sheep and cows to death, leaving their carcasses rotting in fields.

Andrew Putticks and Edmund Pilbeam admitted eight counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Eastbourne Magistrates Court heard that when RSPCA officers called at a farm run by Putticks, of Willetts Field, Chiddingly, and Pilbeam, of Diplocks Farm, Chalvington, they found scores of emaciated and dead animals.

David Buck, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said officers found Diplocks Farm in a dilapidated state. He said: "A number of animals were found dead as the result of being emaciated."

A list was read out of all the animals alleged to have suffered, including a sheep which had died giving birth and a calf which had to be destroyed because it was too weak to stand.

The court also heard many of the bodies had not been disposed of properly and had been dug up by foxes or dogs.

Gregory Szanto, defending Puttick, denied the farmer had neglected certain animals on purpose because they were less valuable stock.

He said: "I think this is realistically a sad case of people trying to run a farm in very difficult conditions.

"The farm was not making any money. They were trying to sell the cows so they could keep the sheep as they could not afford food or vet bills."

The case was adjourned until June 8 for pre-sentence reports.