Farmer charged with wilful ill-treatment of cattle
27 July 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Enforcement Group welcome the conviction handed out in the Invercargill District Court on Friday to an Invercargill farmer charged with offences under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
William Lawton pleaded guilty, was fined $10,000, and ordered to pay $5688 in costs. He has also been disqualified from owning or exercising authority over production animals for 10 years.
In May 2008 a MAF Animal Welfare Investigator contacted Mr Lawton when a complaint was received about starving cattle and visited the property with a veterinarian.
They noticed cattle which had an obvious lack of available feed and were near death. Two calves were found in a shed without food or water, both showing sign of major infection. Another was found in a shed raising concerns it was deliberately left there to die.
After a MAF inspection of all cattle on the property Mr Lawton agreed his animals were in poor condition. A paddock containing a herd of 60 cattle had very little grass which was not sufficient for grazing and the majority of animals were lethargic and thin. As a result of closer examination eight calves were euthanased to end their pain and suffering.
Another property owned by Mr Lawton and managed by his son was visited by MAF the next day. The farm was in a similar state with no grass available for feeding and sick animals showing signs of disease. Dead animals were also found. When asked to explain, Mr Lawton accepted the average pasture length was low but claimed it was because of the drought in the summer, amplified by the property being sandy based as it is on the coast.
Despite instructions being given, subsequent visits to both properties revealed little change in the farming operation. There was still no grass, water or supplementary feed available and cattle were showing signs of significant dehydration. Other animals were lying down, unable to get up, and were infected with parasites.
MAF Investigations Manager Greg Reid said the defendant was known to the Animal Welfare Investigation Team.
"Although this is the first time Mr Lawton has been prosecuted and convicted, he has previously been issued with education letters and warning notices which have provided him the opportunity to make changes that would have enabled him to meet his animal welfare obligations."
MAF urges farmers to be proactive, not to leave their decision making too late and remember that management of supplementary feed or reduction in stocking rate is pivotal. Assistance and advice to those farmers in difficulty is available through agencies such as the Rural Support Trusts, Federated Farmers, Inland Revenue, WINZ and Lifeline.
Media Contact:
- Lisa Gibbison, Communications Advisor, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Phone: 04 894 0432 / 029 894 0432