A 34 year old man has been charged 12 thousand dollars for ill treating and starving 245 calves

Anthony Conan Brolly has appeared in Taupo District Court on seven animal welfare charges.

He was found to be under-feeding - and badly treating - cows on his 55 hectare property - and not treating for parasites

MPI Compliance Regional Manager, Brendon Mikkelsen says it's the worst cases he's seen in his 25 years' experience.

Mikkelsen says all cases of animal abuse are unacceptable and encourages any member of the public aware of animal cruelty to report it.