Farmer fined $35,000 for failing to care for his sheep

Published date10 March 2022
Publication titleTaupo Weekender
Warren Michael George Koberstein was sentenced at Tokoroa District Court this week following a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation and prosecution

The 72-year-old Mangakino farmer was convicted for failing to treat about 100 sheep with flystrike, and for the reckless ill-treatment of eight other sheep that died as a result of the disease.

Flystrike is a serious condition where maggots feed on the surface of a sheep’s skin. It can cause considerable pain and suffering.

MPI animal welfare national manager Gray Harrison said flystrike was avoidable through adopting preventative measures, regular monitoring and prompt treatment of any affected sheep.

“The extent of the problem must have been obvious to this experienced farmer — an observation that was also made by Judge Mackenzie during sentencing. These animals suffered unnecessarily as a result of the farmer failing to ensure their simple needs were met.”

Harrison said Koberstein was aware of flystrike in his lambs, having taken...

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