The Animal Health Board says the conviction of a senior livestock agent in Blenheim for illegally tagging cattle sends a strong message to everyone in the industry that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Richard May from Seddon pleaded guilty to two charges under the Biosecurity Act and was fined $750.
The board says he attached three tags belonging to other farmers, to cattle owned by a friend.
Tags are used as a way of tracing cattle and deer movements, primarily to help with bovine tuberculosis control.
South Island compliance manager Merryn Pugh says the conviction and fine serves as a warning to everyone in the industry that they must not take shortcuts when it comes to tagging stock.
She says switching tags on stock undermines the entire animal tracing system.
