KEY POINTS:
A livestock dealer has admitted using hedge loppers to remove horn tips from his bulls.
The Hereford bulls were found with bloody horn stumps by a New Zealand Food Safety Authority veterinarian during a routine pre-slaughter inspection.
Mark Arthur Atchison pleaded guilty to six animal welfare charges in the Morrinsville District Court yesterday. He was convicted and fined $2700, including court and solicitors costs.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said the bulls' stumps showed sensitive tissue had been cut and exposed, and on some horns there was evidence chopping force had been used to remove the tips.
Mr Atchison admitted the offending in one case, and said the bull had broken a horn going into a race and that he had administered antibiotics and tar to the wound.
A subsequent search of the property revealed 14 cut-off horn tips. He then made a full admission, saying he had always used the hedge loppers to remove horn tips.
MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said: "In the opinion of the veterinarian, the removal of horns in this manner would have caused the animals a great deal of pain, distress and suffering, including the days following removal.
"This sentence sends out a strong message that painful and barbaric procedures such as this are unacceptable."
The Animal Code of Welfare states that when de-horning animals over nine months, pain relief in the form of an analgesic or local anaesthetic must be given.
MAF had previously notified Mr Atchison of the code and specifically the levels of pain and distress if de-horning was not done correctly.
"The defendant had considerable experience in farming livestock and had been made aware of the Painful Husbandry Procedures Code of Welfare, so there could be no suggestion of ignorance," said Mr Reid.
"Having little or no regard for the animals' wellbeing or suffering showed an unacceptable level of care."
- NZ HERALD STAFF
