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Media Release |
12 September 2006
MAF welcomes sentencing for ill treatment of cattle
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) applauds the sentencing handed down today in the Napier District Court to a farm manger for the wilful ill-treatment of cattle in two separate incidents on a Te Pohue dairy farm five months apart.
Farm manager Phillip Peacock was sentenced to 300 hours community service, disqualified from being in charge of farm animals for five years and ordered to pay $750 to cover investigation costs after pleading guilty to 56 charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
In August, company Te Pohue Ltd was found guilty of 49 charges relating to the same two incidents and fined $10,500, including costs.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of this case. It sends a clear message to employers that they are responsible for the actions of their employees. They have an obligation to care for their stock and to act to prevent pain, suffering and distress, even if they claim to have little direct involvement in the day-to-day running of the farm,” says Greg Reid, MAF’s Compliance and Enforcement Investigations manager.
“Farm managers and workers also need to be keenly aware of their responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act. They have an obligation to clearly point out to their employers any circumstances that may hinder the feeding and care of animals under their direct supervision."
Te Pohue Ltd pleaded guilty part-way through the hearing. The issues disputed related to the company’s culpability with regard to the acts or omissions of one of their employees, in this case Mr Peacock.
Mr Peacock was appointed farm manager when Te Pohue Ltd purchased the property in June 2004. In the first three months 266 dry Friesian cows were placed in a neighbouring Carter Holt forest of 10–year-old pine trees and left to rummage for any available feed.
When MAF and SPCA inspectors were called to investigate in September 2004 they found recently dead carcasses of more than 35 cows in the forest block. Of the 266 cows entering the forest, only 179 came out and 14 had to be euthanased. The majority of the animals to come out of the forest were in very poor condition.
Five months after MAF invention, at the height of summer, in late January 2005, Mr Peacock placed 114 weaner bulls into a paddock that had no water source, in spite of the protestations of a farm worker. Mr Peacock told the worker that the cattle would be fine for two days without water. After four days he returned with the worker to find five dead cattle and a further two that required euthanasia. The remaining survivors were in a distressed state.
Despite MAF intervention on two occasions and the serious nature and scale of the animal welfare issues, Mr Peacock was still in charge of the property when MAF inspectors visited in late July 2005.
Ends
Media contact: Helen Keyes, Senior Communications Adviser, 04 894 0161 or 029 894 0161.
