He was also banned from keeping livestock for five years.
The farmer, 65, pleaded guilty to seven aggravated cruelty charges and four cruelty charges for failing to provide the animals with feed and veterinary treatment.
The court heard veterinary officers found the herd of 116 cattle in emaciated condition and a number of animals had to be euthanased.
Veterinary officer Sarah Hall said the pasture available was insufficient to meet the needs of the herd which included pregnant cows and calves.
Agriculture Victoria chief veterinary officer Charles Milne said while the farmer may have had some personal issues he agreed with the Magistrate Stella Stuthridge that “people who keep animals must keep them in good condition irrespective of their circumstances”.
Dr Milne said he could not comment whether the man was having financial difficulties.
He described the $35,000 fine as “significant.”
“I think it was to act as a deterrent and in recent years we have been seeing an increase in the magnitude of the fine,” he said.
Dr Milne said the five-year ban was also significant given the man’s age.
Magistrate Stuthridge said during sentencing there was no doubt the cows were in pain and distress and she could not fathom how a dairy farmer of 50 years could so wholly abrogate his responsibility to the animals.
She said the accused deserved a custodial sentence, but imposed a fine and ban instead.
The Kyabram farmer was the second dairy farmer in less than a month to be convicted of animal cruelty charges.
Last month a 76-year-old farmer from Tragowel, in northern Victoria, was fined $50,000 and convicted for aggravated cruelty and cruelty charges in the Kerang Magistrates’ Court.
Dr Milne said if farmers were facing difficulties with managing stock there were “all sorts of avenues for help”.
“Call Agriculture Victoria to discuss the problem, talk to the Victorian Farmers Federation or think about selling because at the end of the day that might be the best solution.”
Source: Weekly Times
