Farmers banned from owning stock

Gavin Matthews, 47, of Pahiatua, and Wendy Francis Hayward, also known as Wendy Matthews, 59, of Pahiatua, pleaded guilty to animal neglect charges and were banned from owning stock for two years.

Two Tararua lifestyle farmers have been disqualified from owning or managing livestock for two years after being convicted of neglecting stock.

Gavin Matthews, 47, of Pahiatua, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Animal Welfare Act of failing to meet the physical, health and behavioural needs of stock, laid by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

In Palmerston North District Court on Tuesday, he was fined $5000, with vet costs of $630, and disqualified for two years from owning or managing production animals (not including horses or poultry).

Wendy Francis Hayward, also known as Wendy Matthews, 59, of Pahiatua, pleaded guilty to the same charge.

She was fined $3500, with vet costs of $630, and received the same disqualification.

The offending was discovered when an MPI animal welfare officer, acting on a complaint, visited a Pongaroa grazing block managed by the pair in October 2012.

The officer found lactating and pregnant cows in very poor condition with limited feed.

A veterinarian told MPI the property was "grossly overstocked" and there had been "severe and prolonged underfeeding". The veterinarian said animals do not get into this position overnight and such a level of underfeeding put them in severe risk of death.

The cows were gradually brought back to acceptable health.

Ministry officers had visited the property previously on similar complaints and had worked on mitigating animal welfare issues.

Officers formally warned Ms Hayward in 2010 that further animal welfare offending would likely result in a prosecution.

Judge Stephanie Edwards said significant ill health was a mitigating factor in setting the limit of the fine for Mr Matthews, and Ms Hayward's fine was reduced for mitigating personal factors.

The maximum penalty for failing to meet the needs of stock is a fine up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison.