MALLEE farmers in charge of livestock have a responsibility for ensuring the health and welfare needs of their livestock and animals are met. 

Agriculture Victoria program manager of livestock and welfare compliance Veronica Campbell said this includes providing animals with proper and sufficient food, ensuring sick or injured animals are provided with appropriate attention or treatment, and basic husbandry practises such as shearing are being carried out. 

Agriculture Victoria officers, authorised under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, have a number of tools available, including issuing legal notices to owners or persons in charge of livestock, to direct them to “cease committing an offence or to ensure an offence is not committed”. 

“In serious cases where the animals are at risk of distress and disablement; and the owner or person in charge has failed to comply with directives, Agriculture Victoria can undertake a seizure of the affected animals, removing them permanently from the owner or person in charge,” Ms Campbell said. 

Agriculture Victoria has recently conducted three seizures of livestock in a three-month period. 

“In December 2024, 55 sheep were seized from a Broomfield property due to repeated failure to shear the animals for a number of years,” Ms Campbell said.  

“In January 2025, 52 cattle were seized from a property in Murrayville due to a failure to provide proper and sufficient feed to the cattle, resulting in a large number dying across the property. 

“In February 2025, 441 cattle were seized from a Balmattum property due to an ongoing failure to provide proper and sufficient feed to the cattle. 

“Due to their serious nature, the matters relating to the recently seized livestock are not finalised, and therefore further detail or comment cannot be provided. 

“While we know the majority of farmers are doing the right thing, livestock producers who don’t take appropriate action to prevent and address animal welfare issues can face regulatory action, including prosecution for offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.” 

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or online (aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au). 

For information on dry seasonal and drought support visit the website (agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons).