fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 07 July 2020 10:52

Cow beaten so badly she struggled to walk

Written by  Staff Reporters
Michael Ian Luke hit one cow so severely that she struggled to walk. Michael Ian Luke hit one cow so severely that she struggled to walk.

A Whāngārei farm manager has been fined $3,130 after hitting a cow with an alkathene pipe and a metal bar.

Michael Ian Luke, a 62-year-old former Mangapai dairy farm manager, was sentenced yesterday in the Whāngārei District Court following a court case brought through by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Between 1 April and 18 May 2018, Luke handled dairy cows violently, including striking them with excessive force with an alkathene pipe and hitting them about the legs with a metal pipe.

Luke hit one cow in particular about the legs with a metal pipe so severely that both legs were badly swollen and she struggled to walk.

Luke entered a guilty plea to a representative charge under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. He was convicted and ordered to pay $3,130. 

The charge was related to hitting a cow with an alkathene pipe and a metal bar.

MPI director of compliance Gary Orr said people who were in charge of animals had a duty of care toward them. 

"The law is clear on these matters and anyone would agree this does not meet our high standards for the care of animals."

Individuals who are aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty can report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone on 0800 00 83 33.

More like this

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an 8-hour marathon hearing.

Waikato cattle farmers fined $23,000

A Waikato cattle farming family have been fined $23,000 for failing to provide sufficient food and care for their animals, resulting in more than half a dozen animal deaths.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.