Farmer Convicted For Animal Mistreatment After Euthanizing 226 Sheep

A New Zealand farmer was found guilty of mistreating his flock following the euthanasia of 226 sheep. Bevan Scott Tait, 52, pled guilty to violating the Animal Welfare Act under eight charges.

He confessed to animal neglect offenses, including mistreating animals and failing to provide necessary and enough care for the sheep.

Tait was sentenced to nine months at home and 150 hours of community service on Monday, July 5. For the next four years, he will not be able to manage or own farm animals. His lawyer, Tanya McCullum, reported that the 52-year-old farmer was suffering from depression and had not gotten assistance.

Investigators found the euthanized animals to be starving and sick, and they were put down.

After receiving complaints, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) animal welfare department launched an inquiry into Tait's farm near Russock Creek, which resulted in a series of inspections that year.

The assessors discovered “animals in some distress,” said MPI national manager of animal welfare Gray Harrison, who instructed Tait to take corrective action, which included euthanizing eight sheep, according to The Independent.

After following up the farm, inspectors observed that the pasture improved and Tait had treated affected sheep for fly-strike.

But, the MPI picked up a new complaint and issued a search warrant on the farm.

The examiners discovered three dead cows and observed that his sheep didn't have adequate grass to graze. Tait was given instructions to make a variety of changes in order to guarantee that the animals were adequately fed.

Tait was given instructions to make a variety of changes in order to guarantee that the animals were adequately fed.

However, the MPI discovered Tait did not follow the guidelines and was “not doing what was needed to look after his animals” according to Harrison. “We had a vet assess each animal individually, and as a result, 226 sheep and three lambs had to be euthanized,” he added.

The rest of the animals later were sold and re-homed.

"It's fair to say that this type of offending is rare," Harrison told reporters. "Most farmers do the right thing by their animals and Tait's neglect of his animals was one of the worst we've seen for some time."

McCullum said that the country's Rural Support Trust had contacted Tait months before the occurrence and determined that he required assistance, but had then neglected to assist him.

The lawyer stated that instead of asking him to repair the problem on his own, they should have offered him help or aid.

The court, on the other hand, maintained that the crime was still severe, especially because Tait was a seasoned farmer who should act on the animals' suffering.