13 Oct 2012

Farmer convicted of ill-treating cows

4:41 pm on 13 October 2012

A Waikino farmer has been convicted of wilful ill-treatment after he was found to have broken the tails on 115 dairy cows.

Laurens Barend Erasmus, 40, was convicted in Waihi District Court.

Animal compliance officers in February found the 135 cows on the property showing obvious signs of physical injuries and severe distress.

Twenty-five had to be put down after they were found to have broken legs, swollen hocks and joints, weeping lesions and infections. A steel pipe had been used to hit them on their hind legs.

Erasmus was sentenced to 10 months home detention.