Rowarth appointed DairyNZ deputy chair
DairyNZ has appointed Jacqueline Rowarth as its first deputy board chair.
DairyNZ has responded to shocking footage of a Northland sharemilker hitting cows with an iron rod.
The footage, recorded by animal advocacy group Farmwatch with secret cameras installed on the farm, is creating a social media storm.
Farmers and sharemilkers have taken to social media to condemn the man’s actions. In the video, the sharemilker is clearly seen striking cows with a stick, a steel pipe and an alkathene pipe. The footage has been handed to Ministry of Primary Industries.
Taranaki sharemilker Matthew Herbert said on Twitter “that man in the headlines is not a sharemilker”.
“He’s a leech at the bottom of our industry. He should be kicked out today.”
With photos of him cuddling cows, Herbert wrote, “real sharemilkers treat their cows like this...”
Federated Farmers national sharemilkers chairman Richard McIntyre also did not hold back.
“Society don't tolerate or make excuses for wife beaters and neither will we in this case,” he tweeted.
“We need to make sure we speak up when we see cases like this on farm and ensure that something is done about it. I hope MPI now have all of the evidence they need.”
DairyNZ’s strategy leader Dr Jenny Jago says the well-being of animals is at the heart of every dairy farm.
“It is not okay to treat any animal poorly - ever - and the vast majority of farmers care deeply about their animals. This footage is disturbing and it has been reported that a complaint has been laid. This type of appalling behaviour is absolutely not representative of the thousands of farmers that work with cows every day and are passionate about animal welfare.
“Cruel and illegal practices are not in any way condoned or accepted by the dairy sector as part of dairy farming. If a farmer treats their cows badly, they shouldn’t be working in the dairy sector. It’s as simple as that,” says Jago.
MPI has not commented on the shocking footage yet.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.