Crafars may escape charge

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The Crafar farming family could escape prosecution after more than 100 calves were found neglected and malnourished on one of their farms.

Agriculture and Forestry Ministry staff found the bobby calves in a shed at Benneydale Farm, near Tokoroa, on September 7 after a neighbour told the department they were not being fed or given water.

The farm is under the directorship of brothers Allan and Frank Crafar and Allan's wife Elizabeth – who own 22 central North Island farms and have previously been involved in animal neglect cases.

Te Pohue Ltd – a company under their directorship – was fined $10,550 in 2006 after pleading guilty to 49 charges of animal neglect after 23 cows were found dead in a forested area at the back of the Hawke's Bay farm they owned.

Allan Crafar was also found not guilty in 2007 of transporting a bull with a broken leg 350km in a truck.

MAF's Greg Reid said an investigation into the current case was almost complete, and a decision on whether to prosecute would be made in the next few days. Dozens of the calves had to be put down.

He said who was charged would depend on who was expected to have given the calves care and protection. "Owners will not be charged if they can show or we uncover ... that they had no knowledge of what happened or had nothing to do with it. We're looking at what was done or not done and who was responsible."

Individuals can be fined up to $25,000 under the Animal Welfare Act, corporate bodies $125,000.

Agriculture Minister David Carter said farm owners had to take responsibility for neglect, and should have systems to prevent it.

"I think that where any farmer treated animals like these ones appear to have been treated, someone should be held responsible, not only for the animals but also for NZ's international reputation."

Allan Crafar said yesterday he was "bloody ashamed" of bringing the dairy industry into disrepute, but didn't believe court action was justified. He visited the farm only a few times a year.

- © Fairfax NZ News