File photo. Photo: SUPPLIED
A Northland farmer has been banned from owning or managing deer for three years after inspectors found dead and under-nourished animals on his property.
Niven John Lowrie was also fined $7000 and ordered to pay $7162 in vet costs when he was sentenced in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday.
The 66-year-old was charged with two animal welfare offences after complaints from the public prompted MPI inspectors to visit his Kaiwaka property.
MPI regional animal welfare manager Brendon Mikkelsen said Lowrie had been managing another farm outside the district, but neglecting his own animals.
"Our investigation found more than 145 deer were basically left to fend for themselves with poor pasture and a lack of supplementary feed," he said.
Inspectors found 14 deer carcasses and a deer tangled by its antlers in a fence and stuck in mud.
That animal had to be euthanised to end its suffering.
"Being an absent farmer is unacceptable. People in charge of animals are responsible at all times for their wellbeing," he said.
"The suffering of these deer could have been prevented if Mr Lowrie had stayed on top of his responsibilities."
Mikkelsen said MPI would hold farmers to account any time it found evidence of deliberate neglect.
He urged anyone who was aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to call the MPI animal welfare complaints line on 0800 00 83 33.
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