A NEW Zealand sheep shearer has been placed on two months home detention for physically abusing seven lambs while shearing them.

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 the Ministry for Primary Industries.

MPI responded by launching a nationwide investigation of shearing practices.

Damian Walter David Fraser (37) from North Otago was sentenced in the Oamaru District Court today on seven charges of ill-treatment of sheep under the Animal Welfare Act, following a successful prosecution by MPI. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

MPI regional manager investigations central and south, Gerry Anderson said Mr Fraser’s prosecution was the second to come as a result of a thorough investigation.

“Our team spent thousands of hours studying video footage of shearing operations, and Mr Fraser was identified deliberately abusing lambs on seven occasions.

“This is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations,” he said.

MPI said video footage captured at shearing sheds in Otago showed Mr Fraser striking a lamb in the face with his shearing handpiece and stomping on an animal.

Other footage showed Mr Fraser deliberately dropping a lamb on its head onto the hard wooden floor. That animal was then lifted, swung and it hit the floor a second time on its head. Mr Fraser then held that animal in a way that restricted its airway.

“A veterinarian who viewed the video footage says that animal appeared to lose consciousness before being sent down the chute and that the abuse of these animals would have caused unnecessary pain and distress to them,” Mr Anderson said.

“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, and there are consequences as we’ve seen before the court today,” Mr Anderson said.

Another shearer identified in the PETA video footage has already been sentenced to six months’ community detention and 12 months’ supervision.

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

MPI said animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility and MPI 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.