Federated Farmers assists Ministry in animal welfare case

Under its Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Federated Farmers is supporting the Ministry in a major animal welfare case involving dairy cattle on the West Coast.

“Federated Farmers is assisting the MPI, but as this is a live investigation I need to choose my words carefully,” says Katie Milne, Federated Farmers West Coast provincial president and a dairy farmer herself.

“In animal welfare cases involving farm animals, Federated Farmers provides expert farmers and resources to complement the Ministry’s professional team.  Our sole combined aim is always the welfare of affected stock.

“The critical message we need to get out is whatever happens financially you are a farmer first.  This is not the 1960’s so be open to your family, your friends and your bank.  Above all, be honest to yourself.

“Failing at a business does not mean you have failed as a farmer but failing your stock does.

“We aren’t big into ambulances at the bottom of the cliff and this is why there are a lot of support services available.  Be realistic and talk to your advisers or to us at Federated Farmers.  You will find we all want to help so no one needs to be an island.

“I also need to make it clear that there is no way anyone can condone the maltreatment of livestock.  Aside from an obvious and significant destruction of commercial value, it is ethically unacceptable,” Mrs Milne concluded.