Smeaton Sheep Farm - Victoria
Extraordinary contempt for Australian sheep ...The reality of sheep farming in Australia:
Nightmare on a Sheep Farm at Smeaton in Victoria -
November 2008 to February2009
A story of neglect and cruelty and inexcusable inaction by the Department of Primary Industries of Victoria. Australian sheep, neglected on farms, and exported to horrific cruelty ...
(With grateful thanks to our friends in Victoria who sent us this shocking story of neglect, cruelty and abuse).
StopTAC wrote to the Minister for Primary Industries in Victoria, the Police Commissioner and RSPCA Victoria. We received a telephone call from Sergeant Towk at Creswick Police Station, who was advised by the DPI that the matter was considered to be closed. We indicated that nothing could be further from the truth, and have now received a further response from the DPI in Victoria, also indicating that it considers the matter closed. We have received no response from RSPCA Victoria at all)
This story is by no means unique to Victoria, and happens all over the country, including Tasmania (refer to The Law - Cases - Robert Charles Gregg, for example.
The farm at Smeaton:
In November last year, a number of sheep with flystrike were spotted in a paddock along the Creswick-Newstead Road about 6.5kms from Smeaton, near Ballarat in Victoria Australia. On closer inspection it was found that there were many, many more sheep on this property that needed urgent attention, it was discovered that flystrike* was just one of the many serious afflictions these sheep were suffering from. Numerous sheep bodies and countless numbers of bones strewn about the property indicated that sheep had been left to die on this property for what may have been many months or even years. The small skulls of lambs as well as adult sheep indicated that these are not the product of ‘natural’ death from old age (which never happens on working farms), but from afflictions which should have been prevented or treated.
The ones for whom help sadly arrived too late ...
Complaints were made to the Department of Primary Industries; however they failed to attend at the time, saying they would inspect the property at some later date. Some days later a DPI officer reported that the property could not be found. This was despitethe fact that the concerned people clearly marked the property entrance for the DPI, as well as providing a detailed map. On another occasion a DPI officer stated that she had ‘driven past’ the property, and had seen no evidence of neglect, despite having been clearly advised that it was necessary to enter the property in order to inspect all the animals due to size of the property, its rough terrain and downed fences. Unfortunately the DPI officer ignored this advice and appeared content to simply just drive past the property.
The only water available to the sheeo other than this filthy, contaminated pond containing a rotting carcass was a long distgance away at the far side of the property. Many of the sheep were too crippled to walk that far, from wool blindness, flystrike and overgrown, deformed feet
The same members of the public have subsequently visited the property on several occasions and they were not prepared for the horrors that were to be uncovered. During each visit to the property shocking cases of animal abuse and neglect were documented, and despite urgent appeals to the DPI to attend the property to investigate the complaints, the DPI consistently declined to attend in order to alleviate the suffering of the many sheep in question. As a result the people were forced to deal with these issues themselves and had no choice but to transport sheep that were in immediate need of care to veterinary surgeons. Many other complaints have been made since to the DPI regarding this property, however to date this has proved futile. Sheep have continued to suffer and die from preventable and treatable afflictions such as flystrike and wool blindness. Despite numerous visits to the property, the DPI maintains that they have seen no evidence of neglect and abuse and that such neglect as documented previously on the property holds no sway because the ‘authorities’ were not in attendance to witness it.
Through their failure to attend on occasions when such evidence was readily available in the form of downed sheep with flystrike or broken legs, the DPI has demonstrated that it actively avoids obtaining such evidence, and that it has no intention of holding the farmer accountable for aggravated cruelty. If in fact on their ‘visits’ they really did not see anything wrong, one could only assume they are incompetent and/or lacking in training and expertise in recognising conditions such as flystrike.
The poor performance of the regulator in this matter is further confirmation that the DPI is not the appropriate body to police animal welfare on farms anywhere in the country. While it professes to represent animals used in farming, in reality it exists to represent farming industries, at the expense of animal welfare. This conflict of interests must be acknowledged and an independent regulator with fully accountable and transparent policy and procedures should be awarded jurisdiction and resources to police animal welfare on farms.
*Flystrike: http://www.liveexportshame.com/mulesing/index.htm
An authoritative comment on mulesing and
flystrike:
“Mulesing does not free the sheep from blowfly strike, but proper husbandry practices,
including close inspection of sheep, will reduce and virtually eliminate flystrike.” (Dr John
Auty, Veterinary Surgeon formerly Assistant Director of Animal Health, Department of
Primary Industries)
Live animal export:
Contrary to the claims made by both the livestock industry and Government, there is absolutely no inspection on farms of animals destined for the live export trade.
Through their failure to attend on occasions when such evidence was readily available in the form of downed sheep with flystrike or broken legs, the DPI has demonstrated that it actively avoids obtaining such evidence, and that it has no intention of holding the farmer accountable for aggravated cruelty. If in fact on their ‘visits’ they really did not see anything wrong, one could only assume they are incompetent and/or lacking in training and expertise in recognising conditions such as flystrike.
The poor performance of the regulator in this matter is further confirmation that the DPI is not the appropriate body to police animal welfare on farms anywhere in the country. While it professes to represent animals used in farming, in reality it exists to represent farming industries, at the expense of animal welfare. This conflict of interests must be acknowledged and an independent regulator with fully accountable and transparent policy and procedures should be awarded jurisdiction and resources to police animal welfare on farms.
*Flystrike: http://www.liveexportshame.com/mulesing/index.htm
An authoritative comment on mulesing and
flystrike:
“Mulesing does not free the sheep from blowfly strike, but proper husbandry practices,
including close inspection of sheep, will reduce and virtually eliminate flystrike.” (Dr John
Auty, Veterinary Surgeon formerly Assistant Director of Animal Health, Department of
Primary Industries)
Live animal export:
Contrary to the claims made by both the livestock industry and Government, there is absolutely no inspection on farms of animals destined for the live export trade.
The living dead - the Cormo Express aka
Merino Express
Blinded sheep on a truck in Oman, 45 degree heat
Animals Australia September 2007
The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) is the regulator of the Australian Standards for Export of livestock (ASEL). The regulations were initiated primarily as a public relations exercise in an effort to try to suggest that the government is in some way regulating the live export trade and in doing so is providing an acceptable standard of animal welfare including health and handling. All exporters should comply with the ASEL regulations and it is the responsibility of AQIS to ensure compliance. However, we can state categorically that AQIS do not inspect the animals that are destined to be exported on the farms even though a requirement for inspections forms part of the ASEL supply ‘chain’.
Nor does AQIS ensure compliance at ship loadings in anything approaching an appropriate standard or rigour, or apply santions to the exporters who routinely breach the mandatory ASEL.
Therefore it is possible that this farm breeds and sells sheep to exporters for the live animal export trade.
A formal complaint has been lodged with local police by Animal Liberation New South Wales regarding this property and the mishandling of the matter by the DPI, which should warrant a full investigation.
Nor does AQIS ensure compliance at ship loadings in anything approaching an appropriate standard or rigour, or apply santions to the exporters who routinely breach the mandatory ASEL.
Therefore it is possible that this farm breeds and sells sheep to exporters for the live animal export trade.
A formal complaint has been lodged with local police by Animal Liberation New South Wales regarding this property and the mishandling of the matter by the DPI, which should warrant a full investigation.
Two clips of footage from the property can be found on YouTube:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MOkZAUu0jfI
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQSGJNWyUVc
Lack of Action - Smeaton, Victoria
It is immediately obvious from the road that all was not right with this property. Any person with a little knowledge of sheep would see that the sheep in the foreground of this photo is flystruck, the one on the left has a dirty breech and is likely to become flystruck very soon, and the lamb is unmarked with a long tail indicating that sheep are left here to fend for themselves without any management. None are crutched (removal of wool around the bottom and leg area) and at the time of filming it is the middle of flystrike season -when the flies are at their most active.
The lifeless body of this ewe was found near one of the gates to the property and could be easily seen from the road. Upon close examination of the sheep, the team found that she had suffered from extensive fly strike. There were maggots eating her flesh all the way up her back. The extent of the strike and the size and types of the maggots suggest clearly that she was alive when the flies had laid their eggs on her flesh and had been left to suffer for some time before succumbing to the maggot infestation. Her suffering is unimaginable.
Faith
It was evident from a distance that Faith was flystruck on the breech. She was standing away from the mob, her lamb beside her. Her head was down and she was stamping her feet and looking very agitated. A dark stain was visible on the wool around the breech. The team knew that if she was not treated she would soon be suffering beyond belief and would die within a couple of weeks, leaving her young lamb to fend for himself. She was quite determined not to be caught and ran for some way when she perceived our intention to catch her. After a few minutes she gave up and allowed herself to be caught when she became exhausted as the toxins produced by thousands of maggots spread through her system. Her lamb took fright and ran off, watching proceedings from a distance.
The wool was cut from Faith’s wounds and flystrike powder applied to kill the maggots. A cream to provide some protection from sunburn on her already severely damaged skin was also applied. Sunburn is another common problem when flystrike is left too long without treatment so that serious damage is done to the skin and flesh. Sunburn results in severe pain, cracking, infection and often recurring flystrike as the flies attack the wound.
After treating Faith’s wound the team sprayed a mark on her with purple dye to identify her. When she was finally let up she ran off to reunite with her lamb, her behind glowing white from the flystrike powder. No doubt she felt full of relief with the maggots gone and was able to properly rest for the first time in days.
Faith after the team treated her
The team treated three other sheep in similar condition on that day, with moderately advanced flystrike which would have led to inconceivable suffering and inevitable death within a couple of weeks. All of these were ewes had young lambs which would have been left without their mother.
Flystrike is best spotted when sheep are still and do not realise they are being observed, because it is most easily detected by their behaviour. Behaviour of a flystruck sheep may include separation from the flock, often hiding under trees or behind rocks, biting and scratching or rubbing on the ground and restlessness. A dark stain can be seen, however this is not always the case especially if the wool is long. In advanced cases wool may be seen separating and falling from the body. Sheep being observed or chased will run and disguise the fact that they are sick for as long as possible to avoid attracting the attention of predators.
After treating Faith’s wound the team sprayed a mark on her with purple dye to identify her. When she was finally let up she ran off to reunite with her lamb, her behind glowing white from the flystrike powder. No doubt she felt full of relief with the maggots gone and was able to properly rest for the first time in days.
Faith after the team treated her
The team treated three other sheep in similar condition on that day, with moderately advanced flystrike which would have led to inconceivable suffering and inevitable death within a couple of weeks. All of these were ewes had young lambs which would have been left without their mother.
Flystrike is best spotted when sheep are still and do not realise they are being observed, because it is most easily detected by their behaviour. Behaviour of a flystruck sheep may include separation from the flock, often hiding under trees or behind rocks, biting and scratching or rubbing on the ground and restlessness. A dark stain can be seen, however this is not always the case especially if the wool is long. In advanced cases wool may be seen separating and falling from the body. Sheep being observed or chased will run and disguise the fact that they are sick for as long as possible to avoid attracting the attention of predators.
Lily
Lily was found in the same paddock as Faith, in much worse condition. She was barely able to rise, but made a gallant effort as she was approached. She was severely flystruck over a large part of her back and was extremely thin and weak. Flystrike causes so much pain and agitation that sheep cannot concentrate on eating and cannot relax, let alone sleep. They literally fall apart over the course of the maggot infestation if not treated. Lily had been mulesed but had to endure flystrike as well, which happens all too often due to the neglect of farmers like this one who do not check their sheep frequently or carry out essential prevention measures. Lily had signs of chronic scouring; possibly due to worm infestation, and like the rest of the flock had not been crutched although it was fly season. It is inevitable that a sheep left in this condition will become flystruck.
An accumulation of faeces was stuck to the wool on her hind legs. The wool and rotting skin was peeling from her back making it appear as if she had a long tail.
The maggots were removed from Lily to help alleviate some of her immediate suffering; however she was not well enough to leave at the property. She was taken to a veterinary surgeon who euthanised her. Unfortunately she had a lamb which probably could not have suckled from her for some time as she had barely been able to stand. Despite great efforts, the lamb could not be caught and had to be left on the property. We can only hope that somehow he managed to survive although this is unlikely due to his tender age.
An accumulation of faeces was stuck to the wool on her hind legs. The wool and rotting skin was peeling from her back making it appear as if she had a long tail.
The maggots were removed from Lily to help alleviate some of her immediate suffering; however she was not well enough to leave at the property. She was taken to a veterinary surgeon who euthanised her. Unfortunately she had a lamb which probably could not have suckled from her for some time as she had barely been able to stand. Despite great efforts, the lamb could not be caught and had to be left on the property. We can only hope that somehow he managed to survive although this is unlikely due to his tender age.
Mae
Mae was in such terrible shape that there would be no option but to have her euthanased. She was extensively flystruck and the skin and wool were peeling from her body. Secondary strike had already set in (maggots of fly species that attack after the initial strike, burrowing powerfully into the flesh and muscle). Since the DPI declined to attend (again), Mae was transported to a veterinary surgeon who predictably advised that she needed to be put out of her misery immediately, and that she would have died if left on the property after several more days spent in agony. Mae was also a mother whose lamb was unfortunately left to fend for himself as he could not be caught. He ran to nearby sheep as his mother was removed from the paddock and the team tried to suppress the realisation that he was probably too young to survive without his mother.The wool was lifted to reveal the full extent of the maggot infestation
Both live maggots feeding on living flesh and concentrated mounds of fly eggs ready to hatch within the wool can be seen.
Pete
Pete was close to death when he was found sitting alone legs spread wide due to the pain, near a stinking black puddle in a creek bed which was contaminated by a rotting sheep’s carcass. He was an image of hopelessness and misery, hundreds of flies swarming around him and crawling over his face. The stench of rotting flesh was overpowering.
He seemed to be in a trance like state, was unable to move and was beyond even trying. It was possible to hear his heart beating fast and he was trembling all over. Pete had been mulesed, however like millions of other sheep in this country still suffered the horrors of flystrike. The evidence of neglect was easy to see; he was uncrutched, almost wool blind, and his feet were long and curled. (Wool blind is when the wool around the face has not been clipped so that the eyes are clear of wool growth.)
The plight of Pete represents yet more evidence of this farmer’s negligence and callousness, unacknowledged by the Department of Primary Industries of Victoria.
This young poor wretched animal died groaning about an hour after these pictures were taken after having suffered terribly for weeks. What makes this so appalling is that this, like all the other cases on this farm, was completely avoidable.
Pete had been mulesed and was still attacked by flesh eating maggots which had burrowed deep into his exposed tissue. Clearly mulesing is not the answer. Good management including preventative action to ensure the sheep do not suffer from fly strike is the only way to protect the vulnerable animals.
He seemed to be in a trance like state, was unable to move and was beyond even trying. It was possible to hear his heart beating fast and he was trembling all over. Pete had been mulesed, however like millions of other sheep in this country still suffered the horrors of flystrike. The evidence of neglect was easy to see; he was uncrutched, almost wool blind, and his feet were long and curled. (Wool blind is when the wool around the face has not been clipped so that the eyes are clear of wool growth.)
The plight of Pete represents yet more evidence of this farmer’s negligence and callousness, unacknowledged by the Department of Primary Industries of Victoria.
This young poor wretched animal died groaning about an hour after these pictures were taken after having suffered terribly for weeks. What makes this so appalling is that this, like all the other cases on this farm, was completely avoidable.
Pete had been mulesed and was still attacked by flesh eating maggots which had burrowed deep into his exposed tissue. Clearly mulesing is not the answer. Good management including preventative action to ensure the sheep do not suffer from fly strike is the only way to protect the vulnerable animals.
Lucy
Lucy was found by a stinking black puddle in a creek bed which was contaminated by a rotting sheep’s carcass. Severely fly struck she was close to death and of course extremely distressed. She was panting hard, eyes wide with terror but unable to rise. Lucy had been mulesed, however like millions of other sheep in this country still suffered the horrors of flystrike. The evidence of neglect was easy to see; she was uncrutched, almost wool blind, and her feet were long and curled. She died before she could be transported to a vet.
The maggot infestation feeding on Lucy was one of the most severe ever seen. She was in the last few minutes of life and had suffered unimaginable pain of being eaten alive.
Hairpin
It was obvious something was very wrong with Hairpin. She could only drag herself along with great effort, favouring one hind leg and then the other. One hind leg in particular looked very odd as it was bent at an unnatural angle. Hairpin could only move for a couple of metres before she had to stop and rest. On close inspection it appeared that she had broken not one but both back legs, which had begun to fuse so that she could some weight on them for a short time. She must have been in incredible pain.
The DPI were called from the property and appeals made for them to come and put this animal out of her misery, however they declined to attend. Instead they suggested contacting the owner. It was too much, however, to expect those who found poor Hairpin to entrust her welfare to the farmer who had let her get into this condition. It was astounding that even after having been informed by the DPI that numerous complaints had been made against him, the farmer felt no obligation to address the issues. Rather than compelling the farmer to address the myriad of serious animal welfare problems, the DPI carefully avoided another opportunity to obtain indisputable evidence of neglect and cruelty on this farm.
Hairpin was consequently transported to a veterinary surgeon who advised that she should be euthanased as she would suffer chronic pain for the rest of her life and would never be able walk properly again.
Hairpin is lying on her back and her back leg on her right side hangs at an odd angle because it is broken.
The veterinary surgeon provided a detailed report on her condition which has been submitted to the Department of Primary Industries. The DPI maintain they cannot accept this as evidence against the farmer because they claim that it can not be proven that the animal was from the property in question because no DPI officer had been in attendance on the property.
The DPI were called from the property and appeals made for them to come and put this animal out of her misery, however they declined to attend. Instead they suggested contacting the owner. It was too much, however, to expect those who found poor Hairpin to entrust her welfare to the farmer who had let her get into this condition. It was astounding that even after having been informed by the DPI that numerous complaints had been made against him, the farmer felt no obligation to address the issues. Rather than compelling the farmer to address the myriad of serious animal welfare problems, the DPI carefully avoided another opportunity to obtain indisputable evidence of neglect and cruelty on this farm.
Hairpin was consequently transported to a veterinary surgeon who advised that she should be euthanased as she would suffer chronic pain for the rest of her life and would never be able walk properly again.
Hairpin is lying on her back and her back leg on her right side hangs at an odd angle because it is broken.
The veterinary surgeon provided a detailed report on her condition which has been submitted to the Department of Primary Industries. The DPI maintain they cannot accept this as evidence against the farmer because they claim that it can not be proven that the animal was from the property in question because no DPI officer had been in attendance on the property.
More Flystrike
On the same day several other sheep were found with life-threatening conditions such as flystrike and woolblindness. The sheep pictured had body-strike which is visible around the torso. It was clearly distressed, twitching and getting up and down, unable to rest. It was still able to move quickly and could not be caught in the rough country, which features deep ravines and huge boulders. This sheep would have become extremely ill soon after this picture was taken and suffered terrible for possibly a couple of weeks before succumbing.
The DPI was informed of this sheep and others in urgent need of help. The DPI are compelled to ‘appear’ to respond to complaints they receive, and so as a matter of course they attended the property some days later, but predictably, they could find no problems.
Wool blindness
Two ewes with very small lambs were found completely woolblind. Both were sitting in the dry creek bed unable to negotiate the terrain to find water. Both would have died of thirst within days leaving their lambs without mothers had the welfarists not rectified the problem by cutting the wool from their eyes. The sheep could not move very far and were easily caught when they ran into objects they could not see.
Woolblindness is another result of failing to crutch sheep because cutting the wool from the face is done at the same time as cutting the wool from the breech at crutching time.
Their feet were also untrimmed and beginning to curl upwards, another clear sign of neglect.
More visits to the property are being planned. No doubt yet more evidence of this farmer’s negligence will be documented and reported to the DPI as well as the police, since the DPI have demonstrated beyond doubt that they are unwilling to seriously address this issue.
Well-managed properties are easily traversed and organised so that all sheep can be easily monitored for flystrike and other problems, and able to be caught and treated if necessary.
This property is not well managed. The farmer should be charged with aggravated cruelty and banned from keeping livestock. Failing this the DPI should be held accountable for trying to sweep this and all other farmed animal abuses under the carpet.
The sheep is ’cast’ and unable to rise therefore in need of immediate help to get up and remain standing. If left, she will die within a very short period of time. The sheep was in full view of the farmer’s house.
Sheep in full wool, especially if heavily pregnant, are liable to become cast, especially on flat country. Cast sheep become distressed and can die within a short time if not rolled back into a normal position. At risk sheep should be kept where they can be viewed readily and if heavily pregnant they should be inspected at least once daily until they have lambed.
No one can deny that what was exposed on this property is anything less than a real life horror story..
To watch the video please see:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MOkZAUu0jfI
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQSGJNWyUVc
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