More charges over bobby calf handling

Federated Farmers and the MPI are working hard to ensure that bobby calves are treated humanely, and now another alleged offender is facing charges.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has filed charges against a 65-year-old Pukekohe man who allegedly abused bobby calves in August last year by dragging them by single limbs, while he was employed in a role that included transporting bobby calves around the Waikato to pet food processing factory Down Cow.

He is due to appear in the Huntly District Court in February.

One person has already been charged and sentenced over bobby calf offences related to the 2015 season.

Noel Erickson, who worked as a slaughterman at Down Cow, pleaded guilty earlier this year to abusing bobby calves and was initially sentenced to 10 months' home detention.

That was replaced with a two-year jail term in November after MPI appealed.

Another case of alleged mistreatment of bobby calves involving Down Cow and its director Alan Cleaver is still before the courts.

MPI has also filed charges relating to allegations of a farmer transporting a cow while it was suspended by a hip clamp in July last year.

A 35-year-old Waitoa dairy farmer is due to appear in the Morrinsville District Court in February charged with ill-treatment of a dairy cow.