The stockman at the centre of a Queensland Government investigation into the deaths of dozens of horses near Toowoomba has a history of animal cruelty dating back nearly two decades.

Key points: At least 22 horses, including seven former racehorses, starved to death at a paddock leased by Terence Oberle

At least 22 horses, including seven former racehorses, starved to death at a paddock leased by Terence Oberle Mr Oberle's daughter has made a formal statement to authorities detailing her father's "appalling" past failures

Mr Oberle's daughter has made a formal statement to authorities detailing her father's "appalling" past failures Authorities seized animals from Mr Oberle in 2004 after he left horses and cattle to starve on two separate properties

Terence John Oberle's daughter told the ABC she thought he should be banned from owning animals because of his longstanding record of neglecting livestock.

WARNING: This story contains graphic images that some may find distressing.

The ABC can reveal that authorities seized animals from Mr Oberle in 2004 after he left horses and cattle to starve on two separate properties.

Last month, animal welfare experts were outraged after at least 22 horses, including seven former racehorses, owned by 73-year-old Mr Oberle, starved to death at a leased paddock near Charlton, west of Toowoomba.

"To see the picture of the horse carcasses immediately brought back so many childhood memories and memories of seeing this for a lifetime," Mr Oberle's daughter Sandy Walker told the ABC.

"I wouldn't let him have a pet now. Nothing should be able to depend on him."

Horse remains at the property on February 3. ( ABC News: Elly Bradfield )

'None of your business'

Despite the deaths, Mr Oberle has official sanction to keep another eight malnourished horses that survived the ordeal, in the same barren paddock where dozens of corpses were left for weeks to rot.

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has not seized the surviving animals from Mr Oberle, despite neighbours and animal welfare advocates claiming the animals are still at risk without lifesaving care.

The one-time racehorse trainer has repeatedly refused to sell the horses to animal rescue groups, telling the ABC that what he did with the survivors was "none of your business".

The deaths prompted Ms Walker to take the extraordinary step of making a formal statement to DAF, detailing her father's "appalling" past failures and "massive stock losses".

Terence Oberle, with his late son Simon, in the early 2000s. ( Supplied: Sandy Walker )

Ms Walker said as a child she recalled her father would blame stock losses on drought.

But her views changed after a dairy farm venture in the late 1990s with her father, marred by what she said were deaths from his neglect and unwillingness to buy feed.

"I never saw anything lay there and struggle to its last breath, but I've certainly seen plenty of animals shot when they were too far gone to recover," Ms Walker said.

"He should not own another animal and if he has any animals now, I'd like to see them taken out of his care."

Sandy Walker says she thinks her father should be banned from owning animals. ( ABC News: Josh Robertson )

Ms Walker said she did not think the deaths resulted from "malicious, deliberate cruelty" but her father's view that "once something belongs to him, it is [his] to do with what he will".

"I remember stock getting down, can't get up, dying," she said.

"I'm like… why aren't we feeding them more? 'Can't afford it.' Well, why aren't we getting rid of some? 'They're not in the condition to sell.' He would hold onto it until it died and then he got nothing."

The deaths of dozens of horses are at the centre of an animal cruelty investigation. ( ABC News: Elly Bradfield )

Investigators found multiple incidents

Documents obtained by the ABC confirm Mr Oberle was targeted by government investigators in 2002, when he admitted carrying too much stock on insufficient pasture at York Stud at Bowenville, about 60 kilometres north-west of Toowoomba.

He was forced to sign an "animal welfare agreement" in which he promised to provide for the nutritional needs of his stock.

But less than two years later, investigators found debilitated horses and cattle left with completely inadequate feed on the same property.

Last month, animal welfare experts were outraged after at least 22 horses, including seven former racehorses starved to death at the property. ( ABC News: Elly Bradfield )

One horse was found lame with a gaping untreated wound and a swollen leg, while another was at risk of dying with no access to quality, digestible food.

On another property, called Kenmore, investigators found stock in such poor health they were seized from Mr Oberle.

One two-year-old heifer that could not rise, even with help, after being left lying on the ground for two and a half days, had to be put down.

Investigators found other adult cattle were in only slightly better condition.

Mr Oberle told the ABC: "Those cattle were moved from a drought area, brought into there, in an attempt to save them — it didn't work."

But Mr Oberle said he "wasn't satisfied" with the handling of the investigation, which resulted in enforcement action including "animal welfare directions" in June 2004.

He said that "of course I'm unhappy" about the horses' deaths but "it hasn't happened before".

The ABC on Monday found a freshly dug mass grave where dead horses had been left for weeks. ( ABC News: Elly Bradfield )

"There was a period where they slipped very quickly, through the drought. They were going along okay … up until a couple of months ago," Mr Oberle said.

"I've kept them fed ever since then and anything else that's been written or printed about that since has been fabrication."

'He'll keep on doing it'

The ABC on Monday found earthmoving contractors and a freshly dug mass grave at the Charlton property where dead horses had been left for weeks.

Hours after the ABC asked DAF if it was aware of the mass burial, investigators from Biosecurity Queensland were seen inspecting the site late on Monday.

In a statement to DAF, neighbouring dairy farmer Barry Heinemann, said Mr Oberle accused him of a "dog act" when he warned last month that he would report the horses' dire condition to the RSPCA.

A day later, Mr Heinemann discovered the horse corpses, which he photographed and later gave to Biosecurity Queensland.

Mr Heinemann said Mr Oberle "should be dealt with severely".

"He'll keep on doing it if he's not punished," Mr Heinemann said.

There have been conflicting reports over the number of dead horses found at on the property. ( ABC News: Elly Bradfield )

Controversy has already erupted over the number of dead horses, with a DAF spokesman previously telling the ABC that 14 had died.

However, Mr Heinemann said he witnessed Queensland Racing Integrity Commission officers scanning 22 corpses and more skeletons.

"I can take you and show you the bodies," he said before the grave was dug on Monday.

Mr Heinemann said he thought the Government response was "very poor to start with" and taking "too long to get into action".

"I made several complaints before they even come out and did the inspection," he said.

'Cannot rush this process'

A spokesman said Biosecurity Queensland was "thoroughly investigating allegations of animal cruelty" and it would be "inappropriate to make comment on any aspect of the investigation that could compromise any potential prosecution".

"This is a complex investigation that will take some time to allow for the collection of evidence and assessment of potential breaches of animal welfare legislation — we cannot rush this process," the spokesman said.

"For example, Biosecurity Queensland's survey of the site found a variety of remains, including horse carcasses (including several older skeletal remains), cattle skeletons, and pig and kangaroo bones.

"In the meantime, Biosecurity Queensland's primary focus remains the welfare of the remaining eight horses on the property."