Farmer sentenced over cruelty to more than 1,000 animals

A central Victorian farmer has been fined after the deaths of greater than 1,000 animals within the Macedon Ranges in 2019.

Warning: The article accommodates photos some readers could discover distressing

Kyneton Magistrates Courtroom heard Patrick Joseph Connally, 73, had been a farmer for 40 years. 

He was charged by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions in July last year with 80 counts of animal cruelty after an inspection of his farm.

The court docket had beforehand heard Mr Connally allegedly dedicated two acts of aggravated cruelty, ensuing within the dying of 1 sheep and two cows.

Mr Connally pleaded responsible in court docket on Monday to greater than 30 costs, together with these offences.

The remaining costs had been dropped by the prosecution on Monday earlier than Connally entered his plea.

The fees to which Connally pleaded responsible associated to the care of greater than 1,000 animals on his property in Baynton, south of Heathcote, over three months from Might 2019.

They included failing to offer meals for the herds of sheep and cattle, together with a lactating cow.

Additionally they included 21 costs of aggravated cruelty for inflicting the intense disablement of eight sheep and 13 cows.

Courtroom paperwork present that Mr Connally confined 285 cattle inappropriately at a Baynton farm and failed to offer them with correct and adequate meals.

Farmer blames drought

The court docket additionally heard about 800 of Connally’s sheep had been underfed.

Connally’s lawyer acknowledged the seriousness of the offences, which resulted in animals being bought or euthanised.

Nevertheless, the court docket heard it occurred throughout drought situations, and that Connally had been with out incident earlier than — or since.

Connally was fined $7,500.

No conviction was recorded.