Cruelty conviction over cow that wouldn't die

A prominent central North Island farmer and his farm manager have been found guilty of ill treating a cow, which was shot and then impaled still alive on a tractor fork.

But they were cleared of the more serious charge of wilfully ill-treating the hereford cross cow, Radio New Zealand reported.

Judge Gerard Lynch fined Ronald Frew and Geoffrey Donald, both aged 43, $750 each plus costs in Taihape District Court today

The pair were charged after a police officer drove past the Ohakune farm to see the cow impaled on the fork of a moving tractor.

Frew told the court he had instructed Donald to have the cow put down, as it was sick and in poor condition.

He believed the animal was dead when he picked it up with the forks of his tractor.

It wasn't until the passing policeman told him the cow's head was upright that he realised it was still alive.

Frew said he was horrified when he removed the cow from the forks and it stood up and staggered off to join a herd of cattle nearby.

The cow was shot again but still refused to die.

It was not until it had its throat slit that the cow died.

Judge Lynch said the men failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure the animal was dead before it was impaled.

Defence lawyers submitted the pair be discharged without conviction because of the adverse affects on their careers.

Frew is a Ruapehu District councillor and Donald is on a school Board of Trustees.

- NZPA