fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 04 August 2021 11:55

Fine for docking tails

Written by  Staff Reporter
A Waitomo farmer has been fined for docking the tails of cows. A Waitomo farmer has been fined for docking the tails of cows.

A Waitomo farmer has been fined $21,739, including veterinarian expenses and costs, for docking the tails of cows.

Peter Anthony William Muller, 65, was sentenced in the Te Kuiti District Court on one charge under the Animal Welfare Act, following a prosecution taken by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

MPI national manager animal welfare & NAIT compliance, Gray Harrison, says Muller deliberately ill-treated the cows by systematically docking their tails, causing unnecessary and unreasonable pain.

“In NZ, docking is prohibited as the tail is a very important and sensitive part of the cow’s body. It’s used to control flies, but it is also used in social signalling and interactions.”

The prosecution relates to an inspection of Muller’s Waitomo dairy farm on 15 December 2020. Animal welfare inspectors were assisted by a veterinarian.

Of 592 cows inspected they found 534 that had parts of their tails (from above the last 2 to 3 vertebrae) removed by Muller.

More like this

Editorial: Happy days

OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.

Stinging response

OPINION: MPI's response to the yellow-legged hornet has received a mixed report card from New Zealand Beekeeping Inc (NZBI), with praise for the Ministry's expansion of response funding and front-line efforts in Auckland, but a sting in the tail - criticising MPI for not focusing enough on regions outside the big smoke.

Popular Reads

Featured

National

Machinery & Products