Saturday, 30 June 2018 09:13

Sharemilker caught mistreating cows stood down

Written by Rural News Group

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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.

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