increase font size
A Canterbury farmer has been found responsible for the death of 610 calves she was raising, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
A Canterbury farmer has been found responsible for the death of 610 calves she was raising, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Rakaia-based calf-rearer Lisa-Jane Claire Miller was sentenced in the Ashburton District Court on five charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
Along with seven months of home detention, she was disqualified from owning or overseeing calves or cattle for five years. The court also ordered Miller to reimburse veterinary costs of $3,975.48 to MPI.
Between August 2020 and October 2020, Miller bought 687 calves to rear at her farm. Welfare problems began early with an outbreak of scours and while Miller did initially seek help gaining antibiotics from a veterinarian, the problems multiplied.
A later MPI investigation found the animals started to die within three weeks of arriving at her farm and by the middle of September, between 15 and 30 calves were dying daily.
MPI told Rural News that Miller had told the veterinarian that the outbreak was only minor and declined an offer from the vet to visit the farm.
In December, MPI received a complaint from a member of the public and sent inspectors and a vet to visit the farm.
"They found more than one hundred dead calves scattered around the farm that had died from starvation, another hundred calves in extremely poor condition because of a lack of food, along with a lack of good grazing and water for the animals," says Mark Sanders, MPI's team leader of south investigations.
Four animals had to be euthanised to end their suffering. To ensure the remaining animals were looked after, the inspector issued a Notice of Direction requiring all remaining calves to be examined by a vet.
An animal health management plan was also produced for Miller and a search warrant for the property was obtained and carried out. The surviving 77 calves have since been sold on.
Sanders said that Miller had not taken the necessary actions to prevent or address the animal's welfare issues.
In New Zealand, every dairy farmer worth their salt knows just how important it is to look after the welfare of their animals. The health of the herd directly impacts profit margins, which, in turn, determines the viability and sustainability of the farm.
Understanding the nutritional needs of springer cows is crucial for ensuring a successful transition resulting in improved cow health, productivity, and reproductive performance.
In my role as the head of sales & service at GEA Farm Technologies New Zealand, I genuinely believe that the future of dairy farming is happening right now in our backyard.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Dairy farmers can easily track the performance of their replacement heifers and ensure they reach their genetic potential.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.
A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first year of its three-year strategy.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods says despite a challenging business environment, it has posted a net profit before tax of $61 million for 2023.
The deer industry is working on getting more venison into Asia.
The red meat sector is welcoming the start of trade negotiations between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…
