Well-known Tasmanian shipping operator Les Dick has pleaded not guilty to serious animal cruelty charges after the death of dozens of cattle two years ago.
Mr Dick and his company LD Shipping are charged with aggravated animal cruelty and using a method of management reasonably likely to cause unjustifiable pain and suffering to an animal.
Meatworks HW Greenham and Sons and employee Graeme Pretty, as well as ships master John McGee have also been charged with similar offences.
The charges relate to the deaths of 62 cattle on the freighter MV Statesman in January 2016.
The ship was travelling from Stanley to Port Welshpool in Victoria with more than 200 cows on board when 62 of the animals were so badly injured they either died en route or had to be put down.
All entered pleas of not guilty before magistrate Tamara Jago.
Prosecutors estimate the case could take between two and three weeks and involve 24 witnesses.
"There is voluminous evidence to consider," senior crown prosecutor Simon Nicholson said.
It is due to be heard next March.
