A North Canterbury farmer has been ordered to pay more than $77,000 in fines and costs after being prosecuted for allowing his livestock to starve.
John Dalmer, 74, admitted animal welfare charges dating back three years, after MAF investigators found about 4000 'grossly under-fed' sheep and cattle on his farm.
He attributed a lack of grass to the climate and years of applying little fertiliser.
Dalmer failed to comply with instructions to provide a high protein diet for the sheep and wean the calves on the property.
MAF intervened and 380 sheep and four cattle had to be put down.
