A Taranaki farm owner of a Waipā farm and its contract milkers have been fined a total of $27,000 for failing to ensure 230 cattle had sufficient food.
The charges dated back to 2022.
JKD Farms Ltd, whose director and sole shareholder is James Dodunski of Opunake in Taranaki, and contract milkers Manu Opangai Sevaki and Phyllis Ada Sevaki were sentenced in the Te Awamutu District Court on August 20 after pleading guilty to the charge brought by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The Sevakis worked on the farm on Whatauri Road, Wharepapa South during the 2022-23 dairy season as contract milkers. Manu did the physical work while Phyllis managed the administrative part of their work.
“JKD Farms Limited owned and was in charge of the 230 animals. It failed to ensure there was sufficient feed available to their animals,” said MPI regional manager of animal welfare and NAIT compliance Brendon Mikkelsen.
“Manu and Phyllis Sevaki were responsible for the day-to-day wellbeing of these animals, and also failed to take care of them, with many underweight and emaciated.”
In July 2022 they contacted a veterinarian clinic eight times to see to their cattle. Testing found some cattle were suffering from milk fever and a plan was provided detailing how to manage the issue with magnesium supplements, which are widely used on dairy farms.
The veterinarian also recommended three cows be euthanised to end their suffering from milk fever. An assessment of all animals was carried out by MPI animal welfare inspectors, along with a veterinarian and a further 12 dead cattle were discovered. It was likely they died from milk fever and calving problems.
The Dairy NZ website says milk fever is a metabolic disorder in dairy cows caused by insufficient calcium.
“Both contract milkers were experienced farmers, and we would have expected them to have been aware of the issue with milk fever and deal with it. They did not take adequate measures to look after their animals despite having expert advice from a vet.
“Likewise, JKD Farms Limited should have had better systems in place to ensure it was aware of the growing animal welfare problems at the farm, so they could be promptly addressed,” Mikkelsen said.
JKD Farms Limited was fined $13,000.
Employee Manu Sevaki was fined $8000 and Phyllis Sevaki, also known as Amy Te Moni, was fined $6000.
A guilty plea was entered for failing to take proper care of 230 cows – including this one – on a Wharepapa South farm. Photo: Ministry for Primary Industries.
