Duncan Edward Dalton and Jessica Rose Dalton, appeared before Magistrate Reg Marron on Monday, each charged with multiple counts of aggravated cruelty, cruelty to animals and management of animals resulting in a reasonable likelihood of unreasonable suffering.

The couple, who now live in Victoria, are accused of leaving their Naracoopa property in 2014 and allegedly abandoning pregnant cows, calves and other cattle that were found in “extremely poor conditions”.

Mr and Mrs Dalton sat in silence as the prosecution read out allegations from those who had visited the farm. Some of the claims included calves being pulled from their dead mothers and other cattle needing to be shot.

In his submissions, prosecutor Simon Nicholson said it was the first case of its kind to come before a court in Tasmania.

Showing photos of the dead animals, Mr Nicholson said a vet had visited the property and described it as having “morbidity and mortality present” with about 160 cattle including calving cows, cows with calves at foot and lactating cows allegedly abandoned.

Mr Nicholson emphasised the “seriousness” of the allegations and suggested Mr Dalton would have known the risk to the animals, having worked in dairy farming since he was 13.

The Dalton’s lawyer Mark Doyle said the couple had been under financial stress at the time of the alleged cruelty and had filed for bankruptcy. Now managing a farm of 600 cattle in Victoria, Mr Doyle said the Daltons had shown “genuine remorse” and a “genuine love and care for animals”.

When asked for a sentencing indication, Mr Marron described the alleged crimes as a “very serious matter” that would warrant a term of imprisonment.

Mr and Mrs Dalton did not enter pleas and the matter will return to court on March 30.