A Southland farmer has been fined $10,000 for wilfully ill-treating his cattle.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) prosecuted William Lawton after finding starving and sick animals on his property in May last year.
Lawton, who pleaded guilty in Invercargill District Court to charges under the Animal Welfare Act, was disqualified from owning or having authority over production animals for 10 years.
MAF said in a statement that inspectors, acting on a complaint, visited Lawton's farm and found cattle near death with an obvious lack of available feed.
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.
A paddock holding 60 cattle had very little grass and the majority of animals were lethargic and thin.
MAF said eight calves were euthanased to end their pain and suffering.
On another property owned by Lawton and managed by his son, similar conditions and dead animals were also found. Lawton blamed the summer drought.
Despite being told to make improvements to the animals' welfare, a subsequent visit to both properties found little had changed. MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said Lawton was known to investigators, having previously been warned about the need to meet animal welfare obligations.