A north Queensland cattle farmer has been fined $6000 after being found guilty of animal cruelty charges for cutting off the ears of two calves with a butcher knife.
Daniel James Francis, of Edmonton, was found guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court on charges of animal cruelty and breaching his duty of care to the calves.
The court heard the two calves were attacked by dogs in September 2009, leaving their ears shredded.
Defence solicitor Bebe Mellick said his client was faced with two choices - euthanase the animals immediately by shooting them or attempting to clean up their wounds and he chose the option he believed to be the most humane.
However, prosecutor Jim Henry told the court Francis cut the calves' ears off with a butchers knife and without seeking the advice of a vet.
He said Francis cut the ears so close to the skull it would have severed muscle and cartilage which would have exacerbated their pain.
"My client was not motivated by any means to deliberately inflict cruelty on these animals," he said.
"He did what he thought was in the best interests of the calves."
His neighbour complained to the RSPCA a few days later after noticing the poor condition of the animals.
The calves were taken to a vet who told the court they reeked of rotting flesh and one had more than 100 maggots in an ear cavity and so he decided to euthanase them.
Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton fined Francis $6000 and ordered him to pay $2000 in court costs.
Outside court Francis said he'd tried to do the best thing for the cows but now accepted that he should have shot them.
"I just thought tidying them up was the right thing to do, no one's more upset about it than me," he told reporters.
www.BrisbaneTimes.com.au
