The 441 cattle were removed in February, due to an ongoing failure to provide proper and sufficient feed to the animals.
“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,” Agriculture Victoria Livestock and Welfare Compliance Program manager Veronica Campbell said.
As well as the Balmattum case, Agriculture Victoria has seized livestock from two other properties in the past three months.
“In December 2024, 55 sheep were seized from a Broomfield [near Creswick] 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 [near Ouyen] due to a failure to provide proper and sufficient feed to the cattle, resulting in a large number dying across the property.”
Ms Campbell said owners or persons in charge of livestock have a responsibility for ensuring the health and welfare needs of their livestock and animals are met.
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 carried out.
Agriculture Victoria officers, who are authorised under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, have a number of tools available under the act, including legal notices issued 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.
“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 at: aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au
For information on dry seasonal and drought support, go to: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons
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