Agriculture Victoria has issued a warrant for the seizure of an estimated 1000 head of cattle at a property between Euroa and Violet Town, following an investigation into livestock cruelty and neglect at the property.
State Agriculture Minister, Jaala Pulford, confirmed the department was “actively managing animal welfare issues” this week at a large property in northern Victoria.
While Ms Pulford did not provide further comment on the matter for legal reasons, she said the government was committed to working with industry to ensure the highest possible animal welfare standards.
Stock & Land understands a warrant was issued by the Department of Agriculture’s Benalla office to the property owners to seize cattle this week, following repeat complaints about allegedly starving, malnourished and deceased livestock.
Sources, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed a substantial volume of hay was being fed to cattle at the property on Tuesday, while the department sought local support to muster the livestock.
“It’s about time as the department has known about this for years,” they said.
They said warrants had been issued with action expected to be taken this week, however believed no livestock had been seize at time of going to press.
The warrants were connected to a number of animal welfare complaints, over several years, which had led to the department’s veterinary officers entering the property. Ongoing complaints by locals, as well as industry leaders, had resulted in the department escalating the investigation in recent months.
Euroa resident, Nicola Fanning, alerted authorities to the property after she documented alleged animal cruelty leading to livestock deaths.
Ms Fanning said she was infuriated by the way the system had to work, and alleged animals were suffering from starvation, poor health, and had died because of poor legislation.
The department has been seeking assistance from locals to muster the cattle, which were expected to be going to slaughter.
“I can’t see how most of them are worth anything to a processor as they are so poor, and would have little, if any value to them, nor to the owner,” Ms Fanning said.
Last month, Department of Agriculture, senior veterinary officer, John Ryan said officers had been investigating several alleged reports of livestock neglect and cruelty on the property for several years.
Dr Ryan said the property owner had been notified of an impending inspection.
He said the current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 made it difficult to convict systemic mistreatment of livestock because it required visual evidence of dead stock caused by mistreatment.
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, transport and Resouces communications adviser, Sarah Hetherington, declined to comment on the investigation, but said livestock owners and managers were responsible for the health and environment of their livestock, providing food and shelter, plus adequate monitoring and treatment.
“Failure to meet these needs can result in complaints of cruelty and initiating an investigation,” Ms Hetherington said.
A department spokesperson said livestock cruelty reports were investigated by inspectors from Agriculture Victoria, RSPCA, local Government and Victoria Police.
“When a complaint is made, an inspector will examine the available evidence and determine whether an offence under animal welfare legislation is likely to have occurred,” they said.
“Each complainant and livestock owner involved in animal welfare incidents are treated with strict confidentiality, and no details are passed on to external parties.”