20 year ban on stock ownership

A Northland farmer has been disqualified from owning stock for 20 years and fined $7,500 in Whangarei District Court.

Lester Donald Rueben Johnstone, 82, farmer, of Maungatapere, near Whangarei, was convicted of failing to ensure that the physical and health needs of six calves were met in accordance with good practice, namely by failing to provide the calves with sufficient food.

These calves are healthy, but MPI says those owned by a Northland farmer were not.

Two calves starved to death, one was put down and three were removed from the property to mitigate their suffering and improve their health.

Judge Davis disqualified him from owning, controlling or having any authority over production animals for 20 years, fined him $7,500 and ordered him to pay $2,379 veterinary costs and $130 in court costs.

MPI District Compliance Manager Whangarei Darren Edwards says staff often try to work through issues with stock owners to improve the welfare of stock, but do not tolerate wilful negligence or cruelty.

“Animal welfare is a serious matter. When we find evidence of offending, we look to prosecute.”

The charge relates to several visits by Ministry for Primary Industries staff in 2014, to properties in Northland owned or leased by Mr Johnstone, to inspect skinny calves, based on a public complaint in May.

During four visits from May 30 to 22 July 22, MPI staff found several animal welfare issues on the properties and did what they could to mitigate the animals suffering.

The issues include a mob of skinny weaner calves in a paddock without grass or water, an emaciated young cow having difficulty standing, which had to be put down, and finding two calves that had died from starvation.

MPI staff directed the farmer several times to provide better grazing and supplementary feeding for the animals. He reneged on or ignored these arrangements with MPI staff.

On July 22, MPI staff and a veterinarian did an examination of live calves. Three had to be removed from the property and cared for to mitigate their suffering.


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