Farmer charged after starving his cattle

A 62 year-old man has pleaded guilty to 2 counts of animal cruelty after a herd of starving and dying cattle was discovered at his farm at Tenterden this year.

The Mount Barker Magistrates Court heard more than 20 cattle from Thomas Ward Irving's herd of 660 had to be put down and the rest were in a very poor condition.
Irving was fined $4,000 and must pay $45,000 in costs to the RSPCA.
He was also banned from keeping cattle unless he receives RSPCA approval.