Police investigate cattle slaughter at Hagley

TASMANIAN Police are investigating the recent slaughter of multiple cows on a farm at Hagley. 

Tasmania Police said perpetrators cut wire fencing to get access to cattle from the Bass Highway near Hagley sometime between 6pm on Tuesday and 7.30am on Wednesday, before slaughtering two bulls and stealing their meat. 

Earlier in the year, Tasmanian Country reported on another incident involving a farmer’s discovery of a bull shot and butchered on his Northern Midlands property. 

Farmer Antony Gunn said the five-year-old bull was shot from the Midlands Highway before trespassers cut the lock off the gate and cut the fence to get to the carcass.

The bull had its two back legs and front leg taken off as well as the back straps removed.

Mr Gunn said while he had some issues with people poaching deer on the property, this was the first time he had any livestock illegally shot on the farm.

Since then, several poaching incidents have occurred across the state and the issue is becoming more concerning for many farmers.

Peak farming body TasFarmers expressed strong concern over the recent series of unlawful cattle slaughtering incidents, adding that their members are fed up with these criminal activities.

TasFarmers president Ian Sauer expressed outrage at the situation, calling it "obscene" that armed trespassers are unlawfully destroying property, cutting fences, and entering farmland to butcher livestock.

"This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Earlier this year, we had instances where cattle were butchered on a farm after access was gained from a public road at a Midland’s property. The current penalties are just not enough to deter these crimes," he said.

"We want to see stronger penalties to discourage this activity and urge farmers and the broader community to report any suspicious behavior to the police to help put an end to these serious crimes.

"This type of trespass wouldn't be tolerated in suburbs or inner cities, and it must be strongly policed in rural areas as well," he said.

Anyone with information relating to this incident or any other rural crime can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at Crime Stoppers or on 1800 333 000.