The Ministery of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) said it had found further significant animal welfare issues on other Crafar Farm properties, but has yet to decide whether to launch prosecutions. The investigation followed the revelation by interest.co.nz of animal neglect on one Crafar farm last month that saw dozens of bobby calves starve to death. Crafar Farms was put into receivership earlier this week owing its banks Westpac, Rabobank and PGG Wrightson Finance more than NZ$200 million. MAF Director-General Murray Sherwin said announced late on Friday that inspections of all 22 properties in the Crafar Farms group had been completed. "A number of properties were found to have significant animal welfare issues. Action was taken at some others to alleviate immediate problems," Sherwin said in a statement. "On the properties where a response was necessary, MAF had issued explicit directions of what is needed to remedy particular problems such as under weight animals with underlying health issues, inadequate feed, overstocking, and lack of shelter for calves," he said. "Regular and consistent input from veterinarians and farm consultants has also been instructed and organised." The rest of Sherwin's comments are below. "MAF and the Crafar farm receivers are working together on remedial activity where necessary and will continue to collaborate and stabilise these properties for the long term," Sherwin said. "Animal welfare is our highest concern and the most important aspect of any investigation is the animals. While on farm inspections have been completed, and some serious animal welfare issues identified investigations are ongoing and evidence is still being gathered. It will take time before specific prosecution decisions are made. "MAF has been supported in this work by industry groups such as Dairy NZ, Fonterra and Federated Farmers, who are all committed to animal welfare and expediting recovery on Crafar properties. "From a broader perspective, MAF and industry groups have agreed to work together to better co-ordinate early warning systems to identify potential issues at both a systemic and individual farm level."
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