Heather May Faragher, 43, and Brett James Spooner, 34, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday to 22 animal cruelty charges relating to their sheep and cattle during 2013.

Magistrate John Lesser said he accepted that in general the couple were competent farmers but during the relatively short time relating to their offending they had erred.

They were not convicted, fined $2000 each and ordered to pay $118 costs.

Prosecutor Michael Woods said that on March 19, 2013, Moyne Shire local laws officers went to a property at Mount Taurus Road and found a ewe stuck in dam mud and three empty water troughs.

Two days later another sheep was located in the mud that had to be put down.

The stock managers were ordered to fence off the dam and provide another water source.

On March 25 officers noticed the dam was not fenced off and there were more dead sheep.

Three days later there were another two sheep stuck in the mud. One walked away when it was pulled out but the other had to be destroyed.

On May 9 officers went to a Jones Road property where there were sheep and cattle.

A Murray Grey cow was put down and found to have a worm infestation. A ewe was also found to be ill and it was noted that cattle and sheep on the property were in poor condition.

A notice was issued to the owner/operators on May 13 to provide food, water, shelter and veterinarian care.

Ten days later another another two-year-old cow was found emancipated, rated .5 out of five in terms of condition and Spooner said the knackery had been called.

On May 29 officers went to a Lake View Road property and found two calves which had no food.

The next day Faragher told officers the knackery had been called.

On June 5, 6, 17 and 19 officers found another 10 cows and six sheep which were dead or had to be destroyed.

When interviewed Spooner said he was responsible for the stock but had not seen any sheep bogged in the dam mud.

Faragher admitted she had pulled sheep from the mud and said it had a been a very difficult year.

Defence counsel Andrew Tweedly said the problems with the dam was caused by a fencing issue, a windmill issue meant Spooner had to fill troughs by hand, and the couple had bought and fed out hay whenever they could.

The solicitor said the couple now annually turned over about 1200 sheep and 150 head of cattle and had no prior or subsequent animal welfare court appearances.