ABSENTEE farmer, Bruce Cook, was fined $5000 in the Swan Hill Magistrates Court recently for animal cruelty to his herd.

Mr Cook pleaded guilty to two charges, one for cruelty and one aggravated cruelty offence. Without conviction, he was fined $5000 and costs awarded in the amount of $219.95 to the department.

The herd was agisted on a property at Lake Charm, near Swan Hill, approximately 410 k...