A WEST Wimmera sheep farmer has been fined $10,000 and convicted for cruelty to livestock in the Horsham Magistrates Court.

In July 2022, in response to a complaint Agriculture Victoria officers visited a property at Patyah, near Edenhope in the Wimmera, and were faced with more than 100 deceased sheep that had died within the last 1-2 weeks.

Agriculture Victoria said the farmer, Norbert Wende, was the owner and manager of 440 sheep that were split into two mobs on a property in Patyah.

The pasture was short, there was no supplementary feed and he sheep were in an emaciated condition, suffering from parasitic burdens and bottle jaw, the court was told.

The magistrate considered Mr Wende’s plea of guilty, the absence of a criminal history, and rthe farmer’s co-operation with Agriculture Victoria officers, plus the taking of remedial action and there  having been no further offending since 2022.

The magistrate also commented this was a serious case of neglect for which a conviction was warranted, Agriculture Victoria said.

Agriculture Victoria acting compliance manager Penny Lucas said the weight of the fine with conviction sends a very clear message to livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian Government or our community.

“Apart from the obvious pain and suffering of the animals, animal welfare breaches can jeopardise Victoria’s reputation as a humane and responsible producer of food, which can, in turn, affect all producers,” she said.

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or [email protected]

Source – Agriculture Victoria.