A farm manager in Whāngārei has been fined $3,130 for hitting a cow with alkathene and metal pipes.
Michael Ian Luke was sentenced in Whāngārei District Court on Monday for failing to minimise pain and distress in a number of cows in his care.
Luke, 62, previously pleaded guilty to the charge after the case was brought to court by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
"Between April 1 and May 18, 2018, Luke handled dairy cows violently, including striking them with excessive force with an alkathene pipe and hitting them about the legs with a metal pipe," MPI said in a statement on Monday.
"Luke hit one cow in particular about the legs with a metal pipe so severely that both legs were badly swollen and she struggled to walk."
Gary Orr, MPI's director of compliance, said people who were in charge of animals had a duty of care toward them.
"The law is clear on these matters and anyone would agree this does not meet our high standards for the care of animals."
Orr said incidents of people mistreating farm animals impacted not just the New Zealand public's perception of the dairy industry but also the perception people overseas had of it.
MPI encourages anyone aware of incidents of cruelty towards farm animals to contact them on 0800 008 333.
