Palmerston North Shearer Sentenced After MPI Investigation Into Sheep Abuse

Dylan George Manthey, 30, was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court today on three charges of ill-treatment of sheep under the Animal Welfare Act, following a prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

He pleaded guilty to all charges. The end sentence also took into account two driving offences he had been charged with by Police.

How the Investigation Began

The case stems from a nationwide investigation MPI launched in December 2024, after animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) provided the ministry with 560 hours of video footage showing sheep being abused by shearers.

MPI Director of Investigations and Compliance Support Gary Orr says today's sentencing is the first outcome of that investigation.

"We spent thousands of hours studying video footage of shearing operations and Mr Manthey was identified in footage deliberately abusing lambs on three occasions. This is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations."

What the Footage Showed

Footage captured at shearing sheds in South Canterbury showed Manthey lift a lamb to shoulder height and throw the animal headfirst onto the hard wooden shearing platform.

On the same day, he was also captured grabbing another lamb by both front legs, swinging the animal and throwing it over a pen wall more than a metre high.

"A veterinarian who viewed the video footage says the abuse would have caused unnecessary pain and distress to these lambs," Orr says.

On a separate day, at different shearing sheds, Manthey was captured on video grabbing a lamb by its back and neck and throwing it forcefully at the wooden doors of a pen — an act Orr says would have caused similar pain and distress.

MPI Response

Orr says the majority of shearers do not resort to abusing animals, even when the work is physically demanding.

"We know the vast majority of shearers don't resort to abusing an animal when the work is challenging. When we find evidence of deliberate abuse, we take action."

Three other shearers identified through the investigation remain before the court, facing charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns

MPI says animal welfare is everyone's responsibility and is encouraging members of the public who are aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone, 0800 008 333.