Farmer fined $7500 after bulls euthanised over untreated injuries

<p>A Southland cattle farmer has been fined $7500 after four bulls he failed to sufficiently treat were left in such pain they had to be euthanised to end their suffering.</p> <p>David Michael Church, 62, was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court yesterday on five charges under the Animal Welfare Act, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).</p> <p>MPI animal welfare inspectors and two veterinarians found the animals when they inspected Church's property.</p> <p>Among them was a Jersey bull with a badly swollen face, cheeks and jaw that was clearly in pain.</p> <p>MPI's district manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance south, Caleb Trent, said the young bull's condition was unacceptable.</p> <p>"Mr Church should have taken much earlier action to prevent it reaching this stage.