Avenel farmer Jason Chapman fined $40,000 after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges

A Goulburn Valley farmer near Seymour has been fined $40,000 after pleading guilty to 34 animal cruelty charges.

A Goulburn Valley farmer has been fined $40,000 after pleading guilty to 34 animal cruelty charges in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court this month.

Avenel farmer Jason Chapman faced charges relating to a failure to provide supervision and proper and sufficient feed to about 1500 sheep in his care.

Agriculture Victoria officers first attended the property in early June 2019 in response to a complaint.

Officers found many dead sheep with most pregnant or having recently lambed.

Several Notices to Comply were issued as officers attended on five further occasions.

The court heard during the course of these visits 236 dead sheep were found and 25 sheep had to be euthanised.

The Court imposed a conditional order with monitoring for three years in addition to the $40,000 fine.

Agriculture Victoria compliance manager Daniel Bode said despite receiving numerous Notices to Comply, Mr Chapman took insufficient action.

“A significant number of sheep died and experienced pain and suffering,” he said.

“Apart from the obvious pain and suffering of the animals, animal welfare breaches can jeopardise Victoria’s reputation as a humane and responsible food producer, affecting all producers.

“This reminds all livestock producers that the Victorian Government and our community will not tolerate animal cruelty.”

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186.

Last month a former South Gippsland councillor was convicted of animal cruelty and fined $50,000 and banned for 10 years from owning or being a person in charge of any farm animal.