Saturday, 30 June 2018 09:13

Sharemilker caught mistreating cows stood down

Written by 

The owners of a Northland farm at the centre of a video depicting animal cruelty by a sharemilker says they are shocked and deeply saddened.

“We have been in contact with MPI, Fonterra and Dairy NZ and we will cooperate fully with the formalinvestigation into this matter,” the unidentified owners said in a statement released by DairyNZ.

“As of today the contract milker concerned has been removed from all duties requiring unsupervised contact with stock pending the outcome of due process with regard to our contractual obligations.

“We will be making no further formal comment at this time.”

Footage, recorded by animal advocacy group Farmwatch with secret cameras installed on the farm shows the sharemilker hitting cows with an iron rod.

The footage has shocked farmers; many have taken to social media to condemn the actions of the sharemilker.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter