NZ Blueberry Industry Sounds Alarm Over MPI Import Plan
Blueberry growers are warning that fresh imports could pose a huge biosecurity risk for NZ’s horticulture sector.
Shane Ross Quigley (49), Colin Ross Quigley (75) and Margaret Heather Quigley (72) were sentenced in March on four charges under the Animal Welfare Act in the Morrinsville District Court, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Between July and August 2022, animal welfare inspectors and a veterinarian inspected the cattle at the Quigley’s 26-hectare Matamata farm, resulting in charges being laid.
“We found the Quigleys were raising about 158 mixed breed and 21 Limousin cattle, which was above the appropriate stocking rate for the feed available at their farm,” says MPI acting regional manager, animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Bianca Upton.
Upton says most farmers do the right thing for their animals, but the Quigleys were not living up to their welfare obligations and more of these animals were at a high risk of dying from starvation.
During the first visit by MPI, 39 cattle were visually assessed as being emaciated and the Quigleys were issued a legal notice of direction to immediately address these animal welfare issues. A further inspection found a young bull, a Limousin cow and a young heifer were in serious need of veterinary care because of conditions such as worms and emaciation. All three animals were euthanised due to their poor health.
“These animal deaths were preventable if the Quigleys had been meeting their animal welfare responsibilities,” says Upton.
