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Piggery fined $225,000 for sick pigs

A piggery near Gingin has been fined $225,000 for failing to euthanise 10 sick pigs.

Westpork was fined in Perth Magistrate’s Court today after the pork producer pleaded guilty to the 10 charges linked to violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

The charges claimed the 10 sick pigs should have been euthanised soon rather than be treated.

The company also has to pay $21,000 costs, The West Australian reported.

Westpork was charged by the Department of Local Government in January 2011 after its ‘grow out’ facility was inspected the year before.

The company’s chairman Dr Robert Wilson said the charges were not about neglect but management decisions taken to look after the animals.

He said all the animals had been identified by staff earlier and separated for treatment or monitoring as stipulated by the Care of the Compromised Pig Guide.

“It is unfortunate that these animals were not euthanised earlier,” he said in a statement

John Ruprecht from the Department of Agriculture and Food said the case was a reminder to industry about the importance of complying with animal welfare standards.

“The result sends a clear message to the commercial sector that it needs to put appropriate systems, processes and training in place to ensure all livestock are managed and treated appropriately,” he said.

“That means businesses have to plan to incorporate and maintain animal welfare practices and standards as part of their overall operation.”

Ruprecht added that since doing the inspections after charges were laid, the department was convinced the pork producer had tackled the animal welfare concerns and implemented suitable systems.

Wilson said Westpork farms worked under the Australian Pork Industry Quality Program and were run under a veterinarian approved Herd Health Plan administered by trained stockmen.

A piggery near Gingin in Western Australia has been fined $225,000 for failing to euthanise 10 sick pigs.

Westpork was fined in Perth Magistrate’s Court today after the pork producer pleaded guilty to the 10 charges linked to violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

The charges claimed the 10 sick pigs should have been euthanised soon rather than be treated.

The company also has to pay $21,000 costs.

Westpork was charged by the Department of Local Government in January 2011 after its ‘grow out’ facility was inspected the year before.

The company’s chairman Dr Robert Wilson said the charges were not about neglect but management decisions taken to look after the animals.

He said all the animals had been identified by staff earlier and separated for treatment or monitoring as stipulated by the Care of the Compromised Pig Guide.

“It is unfortunate that these animals were not euthanised earlier,” he said in a statement

John Ruprecht from the Department of Agriculture and Food said the case was a reminder to industry about the importance of complying with animal welfare standards.

“The result sends a clear message to the commercial sector that it needs to put appropriate systems, processes and training in place to ensure all livestock are managed and treated appropriately,” he said.

“That means businesses have to plan to incorporate and maintain animal welfare practices and standards as part of their overall operation.”

Ruprecht added that since doing the inspections after charges were laid, the department was convinced the pork producer had tackled the animal welfare concerns and implemented suitable systems.

Wilson said Westpork farms worked under the Australian Pork Industry Quality Program and were run under a veterinarian approved Herd Health Plan administered by trained stockmen.

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