Desmond Ross, a farmer from Murrayville, has been fined $10,000 with conviction at the Ouyen Magistrates' Court on 5 December 2025 after pleading guilty to 7 counts of failing to feed his cattle, 6 counts of aggravated cruelty and one count of failing to comply with a Notice to Comply under the Prevention to Cruelty of Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA).
Agriculture Victoria Program Manager Animal Health and Welfare Compliance, Daniel Bode said following an animal welfare report about dead and dying cattle, Agriculture Victoria officers attended a Murrayville property in January 2025.
At the property, officers located 52 cattle, all in poor body condition. This included obvious spine, hip and rib bones which were visible through their dull coats.
The officers also counted 43 carcasses of cattle.
Officers issued the accused with a Notice to Comply to feed the remaining animals on the property and provided a copy of Agriculture Victoria's Drought Feeding and Management of Beef Cattle Guidebook.
Mr Bode confirmed that Mr Ross, who did not reside on the property, failed to comply with the notice and had conceded that the animals had been dying for some time.
Mr Ross confirmed that he had no firm plans for when he would next feed them due to a lack of sufficient feed being available. He further stated that he was not feeding the cattle because he had given up and had 'lost interest in them'.
Officers conducted a seizure and euthanised all remaining cattle.
Magistrate Southey, in sentencing, said the property was a wasteland and the animals must have been very distressed, noting that there was prolonged suffering of a significant number of animals, who were completely helpless and dependent on Mr Ross.
Magistrate Southey also highlighted that Mr Ross neglected them grossly, and to suggest that he just lost interest in them was a callous way to treat the animals.
