A former chief executive of Tasmania's peak farming body has been fined after pleading guilty to animal cruelty offences.

Gregory Robert Bradfield is the managing director of Southern Rural Enterprises and was charged with animal cruelty offences relating to a herd of cattle in 2013.

Fifty cows had died on one of the company's properties at Musselroe Bay in Tasmania's north-east by the time authorities investigated.

Mr Bradfield originally pleaded not guilty to five charges.

Today in the Launceston Magistrates Court he changed his plea to guilty for one count of management of a group of animals likely to result in the pain or suffering of one animal and one count of animal cruelty.

He was fined $8,500 and the remaining charges were dropped.

Mr Bradfield was the chief executive of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association until 2006.

He remained on the TFGA's board until yesterday, but has now officially resigned.

In January Mr Bradfield's co-accused Raymond James Grove pleaded guilty to the same charges and was also fined $8,500.

In court, defence lawyer Evan Hughes said Mr Bradfield had not intended to cause harm, but had made bad management decisions during a difficult season.

The court heard rainfall at the property in Tasmania's north-east was at record lows when the cattle died.

Magistrate Reg Marron said he was satisfied Mr Bradfield had made a "bad decision" and that management procedures had since been addressed.

In a statement Mr Bradfield accepted the situation should not have occurred said the company had taken significant steps to ensure it did not happen again.