A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent has been fined $15,000 after MPI found he directed a worker to swap identification tags on disease-infected cows so they could be sold at saleyards with false histories.
On Monday, Simon Mark Payne, 44, was sentenced in New Plymouth District Court on one charge under the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries, which prosecuted the case.
The Stratford incident in August 2024 saw Payne allegedly direct a worker to swap National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) tags on four cows affected by Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), a contagious disease.
Ministry for Primary Industries central animal welfare and NAIT compliance manager Gray Harrison alleged Payne knew the animals were infected but ordered new NAIT tags fitted so he could sell them with a clean history.
"On the same day Mr Payne sent the animals to the saleyards in Stratford, MPI received a phone call alleging the unlawful removal of these NAIT devices," he said.
"One of our NAIT officers intervened and stopped the animals being sold. This avoided the potential for them to infect animals at another farm.
"Mr Payne’s actions were both deceitful and self-serving with a total disregard for the potential effect – spreading a contagious disease from animal to animal.
“While this situation was uncommon, this case sends a strong message to others tempted to get around the law.
"When we find evidence of a person in charge of animals deliberately disguising the true traceability of animals – we will put the case before the court.”
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BVD affects around 80% of New Zealand's dairy and beef herds, causing reproductive losses, increased disease susceptibility, reduced growth rates and lower milk production.
The disease is maintained in herds by persistently infected animals, which can spread it through direct contact or across boundary fences. Under the Act, all cattle and deer must have movements declared to within 48 hours.
Animals must be fitted with a NAIT tag and registered by 180 days old or before moving off farm. NAIT tags must never be removed unless authorised by a NAIT officer.
The NAIT system tracks and traces animals if an unwanted biosecurity incursion affecting cattle or deer occurs.
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