A Victorian farmer who allowed sheep to die of dehydration and starvation has been jailed for seven months.
Authorities discovered 44 sheep were either dead or had to be euthanised because of malnourishment in July 2012 at two properties near Kerang being run by Paul Matthew Hamilton.
Hamilton also tried to drove 1000 sheep between properties when they were too emaciated to travel.
The 56-year-old, who was already banned from managing livestock because of previous convictions, pleaded guilty to 11 representative charges of aggravated animal cruelty.
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) lawyer Peter Matthews said Hamilton had allowed the suffering of thousands of livestock.
"This suffering could have been prevented or avoided by basic husbandry," Mr Matthews told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
"They have been neglected on multiple fronts."
Magistrate Peter Mealey jailed Hamilton for seven months, and ordered him to pay legal costs of $40,000.
Hamilton, of Deer Park, was also banned from managing livestock for a further 10 years.
DEPI compliance manager Stephanie Andreata said Hamilton had seriously neglected the livestock.
"We have no tolerance in particular for people who have prior convictions of animal cruelty and haven't learnt from the penalties imposed," she said.
