AUCKLAND – A New Zealand farmer was convicted of mistreating his sheep after 226 of them had to be euthanized.
The animals were found to be severely malnourished and ill and were put down.
Famer Bevan Scott Tait had pleaded guilty although his defense said he had been suffering from depression and had not received enough support.
On Monday, he was sentenced to nine months home detention and 150 hours community work under the Animal Welfare Act.
He will also be barred from managing or owning farm animals for four years.
Tait’s farm in Russock Creek at the southern end of South Island first came to the attention of authorities when inspectors found several dead sheep there in April 2019.(BBC)