An experienced farmer who was questioned about the health of his stock, including three cattle that were in so much pain and distress they needed to be put down, told investigators animals were like humans - “you get thin ones and you get fat ones”.
Brian Greenway came to the attention of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in 2021 after complaints were made about the poor condition of animals on his Kaiwaka property.
On inspection of his property, MPI found the majority of the 82-year-old’s bulls were in good condition, however the younger and older cows were in an emaciated condition scoring one on the beef cattle scale, with five being optimal condition.
The sheep and beef cattle code of welfare states if any beef animal shows signs of being very thin urgent remedial action be taken to improve the condition or the animal must be destroyed humanely.
Today he appeared in court, after earlier pleading guilty to four charges of Ill-treatment towards an animal, where he admitted at sentencing that the management of his farm had “got away on him”.