Taranaki farmer fined $15,000 for illegal NAIT tag swapping
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.
The contract milkers were also placed on 4 months’ community detention.
Following prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) at Te Awamutu District Court last week, JKD Farms Limited was sentenced on one charge under the Animal Welfare Act and fined $13,000.
The former employees Manu Opangai Sevaki (60) and Phyllis Ada Sevaki (44) were sentenced on three charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Manu Sevaki was fined $8,000 and Phyllis Sevaki was fined $6,000.
MPI regional manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Brendon Mikkelsen says JKD Farms Limited owned and was in charge of 230 animals.
“It failed to ensure there was sufficient feed available to their animals. Manu and Phyllis Sevaki were responsible for the day-to-day wellbeing of these animals and also failed to take care of them, with many underweight and emaciated,” Mikkelsen says.
Manu and Phyllis Sevaki worked on the Waikato farm during 2022/23 as contract milkers.
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Manu did the physical work while Phyllis managed the administrative part of their work. In July 2022 they contacted a veterinarian clinic eight times to see to their cattle.
Testing found some cattle were suffering from milk fever and a plan was provided detailing how to manage the issue with magnesium supplements, which are widely used on dairy farms.
The veterinarian also recommended three cows be euthanised to end their suffering from milk fever.
An assessment of all animals was carried out by MPI animal welfare inspectors, along with a veterinarian and a further 12 dead cattle were discovered, which likely died from milk fever and calving problems.
“Both contract milkers were experienced farmers, and we would have expected them to have been aware of the issue with milk fever and deal with it,” says Mikkelsen. “They did not take adequate measures to look after their animals despite having expert advice from a vet.”
“Likewise, JKD Farms Limited should have had better systems in place to ensure it was aware of the growing animal welfare problems at the farms, so they could be promptly addressed,” he says.
MPI says it strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 008 333.
