Help available for flood-hit farmers
The chair of the Otago Rural Support Trust, Tom Pinckney, says he believes that they will be especially busy in the coming months as the enormity of the floods hit home.
A lifestyle farmer has been fined $17,500 for the reckless ill-treatment of his sheep, failing to provide them with proper feed, and not treating them for parasites.
Donald Charles Pelvin, 67, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court today on three animal welfare charges brought by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
MPI national animal welfare and NAIT compliance manager Gray Harrison says MPI investigates reports of animal mistreatment and takes appropriate action against offenders.
“These animals were Mr Prelvin’s responsibility and he failed them.
“Mr Prelvin did not give them the feed and veterinary treatment they needed and as a result they suffered unnecessary pain and distress,” Harrison says.
He says animal welfare inspectors visited Prelvin’s property at Pleasant Point on 5 August 2019 following a complaint from a member of the public.
“At the time of the inspection, Mr Prelvin was responsible for 75 sheep and 27 lambs.
“There was very low pasture cover in the paddocks and no supplementary feed available,” says Harrison.
As a result of the lengthy and combined effects of minimal feed and heavy parasite burden the inspection identified 20 emaciated sheep along with six dead in and around the water race. Another sheep was found tangled in fencing wire.
“13 of the 20 sheep required euthanasia to end their suffering. The other seven were able to be managed in order to save their imminent lambs,” says Harrison.
MPI is strongly encouraging members of the public who are aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints line so that prompt action can be taken.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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