Anthony John Hall appeared in court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to one charge of ill-treatment of a dairy cow.
He was convicted and fined $2800 and ordered to pay court costs of $132.89.
The animal had suffered from an advanced case of bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma, commonly known as cancer eye.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Waikato/Bay of Plenty district compliance manager Brendon Mikkelsen said the cow should have received specific veterinary treatment well before the advanced stages of the condition.
The dairy cow had been dried off in April 2012 and was no longer being milked.
Mikkelsen said it came to the attention of MPI on May 22, 2012, after Hall had organised for the animal’s transport to a meat processing plant.
Mikkelsen said MPI was happy with the court outcome.
“The Dairy Code of Welfare 2010 requires that those responsible for dairy cattle must be competent at recognising ill-health or injury and that they should take remedial action to ease any suffering as soon as they can,” he said.
“MPI will continue to investigate Animal Welfare Complaints and encourages anyone who suspects cases of animal ill-treatment to report via 0800 00 83 33. Calls will be kept confidential if necessary.”
For more information about New Zealand’s animal welfare system visit: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity-animal-welfare/animal-welfare
