Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut under the Government's plan to reduce the public service.
A Waikato lifestyle block owner has been fined $2,500 for failing to adequately feed 26 cattle and $1,000 for not complying with the requirements of a notice issued by an MPI animal welfare inspector.
He was also ordered to pay vet costs of $1,442.22.
Alastair Robert Kane Hughes, 59, appeared in Morrinsville District Court yesterday for sentencing on two animal welfare charges after the case was brought to court by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
The charges relate to a visit to Hughes’s property, a 4 hectare lifestyle property in Morrinsville, by an animal welfare inspector on 23 July 2020 following a complaint from a member of the public.
At the time of the MPI inspection, Hughes was responsible for 26 cattle.
MPI animal welfare and NAIT compliance regional manager Brendon Mikkelsen says that where MPI identifies that people in charge of animals are failing to meet their legal requirements, they will apply the intervention most appropriate to the circumstances.
“After the inspection Mr Hughes was instructed to provide his cattle sufficient feed to meet their nutritional demands.
“People in charge of animals have an obligation to the welfare of those animals. The animals were Mr Hughes’s primary responsibility and he failed them.”
On 13 August 2020, an animal welfare inspector and veterinarian returned to the property.
After the first visit, Hughes continued to underfeed his cattle, providing them approximately half of their daily feed requirements resulting in the cattle continuing to lose weight.
Four of those cattle required urgent attention to improve their body condition.
Mikkelsen says, “All cases of animal abuse are unacceptable, people in charge of animals have an obligation to the welfare of those animals. The cattle in Mr Hughes’s care were suffering from severe malnutrition.
“In New Zealand, everyone must take responsibility for animal welfare.”
He says that MPI 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.
The Commerce Commission says connectivity options for rural New Zealanders are front-of-mind as it begins a formal investigation into the future of the copper network.
Grand Finalists have been selected, all regional finals have concluded, and the journey towards the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is underway.
Hopes of NZ sheepmeat prices picking up anytime soon in the country's key export market of China looks highly unlikely.
Regional councils are welcoming the certainty for councils in today’s Resource Management Act (RMA) announcement by the Government.
ASB says the decision to sign on to the AgriZeroNZ joint venture came out of a wish to be a part of the solution.
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.
OPINION: This old mutt understands that NZ Post will soon no longer be delivering to rural addresses on Saturdays.
OPINION: Your old mate notes that research on the make-up of the new parliament shows it is now far more…