OWNERS and/or people in charge of livestock have a responsibility for ensuring the health and welfare needs of their livestock and animals are met.
And recent seizures on properties across rural Victoria show the message still isn’t being clearly heard – or understood.
AgVic livestock program manager Veronica Campbell said that responsibility included providing animals with proper and sufficient food, ensuring sick or injured animals are provided with appropriate attention or treatment and basic husbandry practises such as shearing are carried out.
“In serious cases where the animals are at risk of distress and disablement; and the owner or person in charge has failed to comply with directives, Agriculture Victoria can undertake a seizure of the affected animals, removing them permanently from the owner or person in charge,” she warned.
Ms Campbell said AgVic has recently conducted three seizures of livestock, including 55 sheep from a Broomfield property due to repeated failure to shear the animals for a number of years.
“In January 52 cattle were seized from a property in Murrayville due to a failure to provide proper and sufficient feed to the cattle, resulting in a large number dying across the property,” she said.
“Then in February 441 cattle were seized from a Balmattum property due to an ongoing failure to provide proper and sufficient feed.
“Due to their serious nature, the matters relating to the recently seized livestock are not finalised and therefore further detail or comment cannot be provided.
“While we know the majority of farmers are doing the right thing, livestock producers who don’t take appropriate action to prevent and address animal welfare issues can face regulatory action, including prosecution for offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.”
Anyone with a specific livestock complaint can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
For information on dry seasonal and drought support go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons.
