New Zealand lambs. Source – MPI, GettyImages.

A NEW Zealand shearer has been placed on six months’ community detention and 12 months’ supervision for physically abusing three lambs while shearing them.

A media statement from the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries said Dylan George Manthey, 30, pleaded guilty to three charges of ill-treatment of sheep, in the Palmerston North District Court on 7 August.

The Palmerston North shearer was sentenced on three charges of ill-treatment of sheep under the Animal Welfare Act, following a successful prosecution by MPI. He pleaded guilty to all charges. The end sentence took into account two driving offences he was charged with by police.

The MPI said in December 2024, animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals provided 560 hours of video footage of sheep being abused by shearers to MPI. MPI responded by launching a nationwide investigation of shearing practices.

MPI director of investigations and compliance support Gary Orr said the sentence is the first to come as a result of a thorough 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,” he said.

The MPI said video footage captured at shearing sheds in South Canterbury showed Mr Manthey lifting a lamb to shoulder height and throwing 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 then throwing it over a metre high wall into a pen.

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

“On another day at different shearing sheds, he was captured on video grabbing a lamb’s back and neck area and throwing it forcefully at the wooden doors of a pen, which would’ve caused similar pain and distress for this animal.

“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,” Mr Orr said.

Three other shearers are still before the court and facing charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

MPI said animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility and the ministry strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 008 333.

Source – MPI.