Shocking footage reveals cattle neglect on SA property
FIRST ON 7: 7 News has obtained startling footage of emaciated, lice infested cattle found on a property near Myponga in South Australia.
The wife of a prominent surgeon has admitted neglect.
Susan Gristwood made news in 2009 for paying top price to increase her cattle stud, and has boasted prize winning bulls.
Now she’s pleaded guilty over the underfeeding of 29 cattle between June and September last year, and to breaching an order for a vet to see the animals.
The same charges were dropped against her husband, Doctor Ron Gristwood, a medical specialist awarded an Order of Australia.
Gristwood’s lawyer told the court the neglect was not intentional but due to a number of unfortunate coincidences.
She had pneumonia at the time and her husband was aged 87.
This drew a sharp response from Magistrate Susan O’Connor who repeatedly accused the defence of not being candid.
“He can look after patients but can’t rake hay to feed animals?” She said.
The court heard someone mysteriously opened gates on their property which led to the cattle contracting lice, and that an RSPCA inspector let the animals into an area that had the poisonous weed, bracken fern.
The case was adjourned until next month.
