WARNING Graphic content: This story discusses the ill-treatment of animals. One of the several ill-treated cows owned by farmer Ray Nairn suffered such severe mastitis that “part of her udder dropped off”. But despite the discharging wound, he continued to milk the cow twice a day to supply Fonterra .
The cow was one of three that needed to be euthanised due to Nairn’s neglect, and there were many more that suffered pain and distress. Today, the South Taranaki 50/50 sharemilker appeared in New Plymouth District Court facing eight charges brought against him by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) relating to the ill-treatment of animals, one of which was a representative charge. The court heard Nairn, 54, failed in this obligation to the cattle by not providing sufficient feed or necessary treatment to ensure their welfare.
While Nairn has not previously appeared before the court on animal welfare-related offences, the farm has come to the attention of MPI on other occasions in relation to “low-body condition” dairy cows and underfeeding. According to the summary of facts, Nairn lived at an Eltham property where he farmed around 63 hectares of land. He owned the cattle, which included around 230 dairy cattle, 51 calves and nine beef cattle, and was in charge of the day-to-day running of the farm.
On November 3, 2021, an MPI Animal Welfare Inspector and a vet went to the farm following a complaint regarding the poor and deteriorating condition of the cows. They .
