A Waikato piggery is facing cruelty charges after 25 pigs were left injured in the alleged overcrowded site, while three had to be put down.
Kaimai Pork Ltd and its manager Kenneth Julian McIntyre, 51, of Morrinsville, today pleaded not guilty to three representative animal cruelty charges in the Hamilton District Court - being the owner/or in charge of 800 pigs failed to ensure their physical health and behavioural needs; being the owner/person in charge of 25 pigs that were injured and failing to ensure they received treatment and the more serious charge of recklessly ill-treating three pigs which resulted in them being put down.
The alleged overcrowding and cruelty offences are alleged to have occurred between August and December, 2014.
McIntyre faces a maximum three year prison term or $75,000 fine while the company faces fines up to between $250,000 and $350,000.
They will reappear in court next month.
