Mallee farmer Steven Ralston pleaded guilty to 14 charges under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which included 9 charges of aggravated cruelty comprising of 128 animals, in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday.
Mr Ralston was sentenced to a 6-month immediate term of imprisonment for the cruelty offences and further fined $10,000 for failing to comply with 3 notices issued by Agriculture Victoria officers.
At the time of offending, Steven Ralston was the owner and person in charge of approximately 2400 sheep located on properties in the Chinkapook region while living in Corack, approximately 120 kilometres away.
The Chinkapook properties were made up of 7 separate parcels of land, allocated to 5 paddocks, totalling approximately 3038 acres.
During the relevant time period between November 2022 and January 2023, Agriculture Victoria authorised officers responded to reports of dead and dying sheep at several of the Chinkapook properties.
Over that period, sheep on Mr Ralston's properties suffered from emaciation, flystrike, grass seed impaction and internal parasites, requiring Agriculture Victoria officers to euthanise over 180 sheep.
In early January Agriculture Victoria executed a seizure of all the remaining animals, where 1,567 animals were further assessed as unfit to travel and were required to be euthanised on site.
A repeat offender, Mr Ralston was also fined for failure to attend court previously, therefore breaking bail and receiving a fine of $250.
Agriculture Victoria Compliance Manager Daniel Bode said the weight of the sentencing is significant and will send a very clear message that those who commit these serious offences against animals will not have the privilege and opportunity to care for them in the future.
Mr Bode added the dedication and professionalism of the Agriculture Victoria officers, plus the outstanding investigative work undertaken by the officers, was fundamental in ensuring a conclusive result.
'Apart from the obvious pain and suffering of the animals, animal welfare breaches can jeopardise Victoria's reputation as a humane and responsible producer of food, which can in turn affect all producers.
'This is a reminder to all livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian Government or our community.'
