Claims of animal cruelty at Van Diemen’s Land Company

The Tasmanian Greens are calling for more scrutiny of the country's biggest dairy operation in the wake of animal cruelty claims.

Van Diemen's land Company owner Lu Xianfeng

Claims of ongoing animal welfare issues at the country’s biggest dairy operation have been denied.

This week Greens leader Cassy O’Connor raised the issue of animal cruelty claims by former employees at the Van Diemen’s Land Company in state parliament.

She said the allegations should raise alarm bells for Primary Industries minister Guy Barnett and is calling for Biosecurity Tasmania staff to conduct unannounced visits to all the VDL farms.

Details about some of the complaints, obtained through Freedom Of Information, include claims such as breaking of cows tails through rough handling, eye gouging of cows, routine injections with illegal substances to induce birth, calves being killed with claw hammers or left to starve to death.

However reports from DPIPWE inspectors, who visited the properties to investigate these claims, found no significant animal welfare issues.

Mr Barnett confirmed that no problems with animal welfare have been found at VDL despite a range of inspections.

“We take animal welfare concerns very seriously, and investigators have found no noncompliance at all,” he said.

Mr Barnett said the Greens should have contacted the authorities with their concerns, rather than taking the claims to parliament.

VDL spokesman Ben Davis said the company is confident there are no issues with animal welfare on its farms.

He described the claims being made by former employees as unsubstantiated, but said if anyone has concerns about current animal welfare at VDL, the company would encourage them to come forward.

"We actively consult with local, state and federal members regularly, but we have not been contacted prior to the comments now being made," he said.

"We would welcome anyone who has concerns or questions to get in touch with us."

After inspecting one of the VDL herds in November 2017, following a complaint, Biosecurity Tasmania officers found 10 cows with broken tails.

Farm managers said the injuries occurred while the cows were in the care of their previous owner, who had to sack one of his workers due to rough treatment. This was then confirmed by the BT inspector who contacted the cows’ former owner.

The VDL company includes 24 dairy farms and runs about 18,000 cows.

It was purchased by Chinese businessman Lu Xianfeng from former New Zealand based owners the New Plymouth District Council for $280 million in early 2016.

Mr Davis confirmed that the company had terminated the employment of some staff after concerns regarding animal welfare were raised and investigated by management. He said these issues had been voluntarily reported to the DPI by the company.

"Any accusations like this we take very seriously at VDL farms and we've fully co-operated with the government departments while they've been carrying out their investigations," he said.

"Any animal welfare claims that have been made to the RSPCA or the DPIPWE have been dealt with. We have 140 employees here and we believe in maintaining the best practice animal welfare standards and we expect all our employees our treat our animals with the utmost respect."