Tail damage draws $4800 fine

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

The Ministry for Primary Industries prosecution followed an inspection at the Oakleigh Rd, Clifton, farm of Dogterom Geddes Ltd in December 2021

Forty-one of 129 2018-born cows had damaged tails.

Eighteen of 126 2019-born cows had damaged tails.

In reply to a question from Judge Jim Large, prosecuting counsel Leonie Matehaere said cows, being sentient, would show signs of pain. It would have been apparent to milk shed workers "working at the tail end of the cow". Considerable force was required to break a cow's tail.

Counsel Scott Wilson, of Christchurch, said some tail damage, "colloquially known as tail break", could be picked up visually but sometimes it was not evident to the human eye.

There was disappointment from the company's perspective.

"There were some signals...