A Rotorua dairy farm manager has been fined $3500 for hitting cows from behind with his four-wheel drive ute.
Kerry James Murphy, 29, was convicted in the Huntly District Court on Thursday after a Ministry for Primary Industries investigation.
On April 19, 2015, Murphy drove his ute down a farm race and hit a number of cows from behind with the bull bars, said the ministry.
Murphy was the manager of a Te Kauwhata dairy farm at the time.
MPI spokesman Gary Orr said the cows were running as fast as they could.
"Hitting a cow with a vehicle is never reasonable nor necessary and can lead to cows receiving injuries causing significant pain and distress, including hip dislocation and fractured limbs and could even result in death if the animal was severely injured," Orr said.
"The outcome of this case sends a very clear message to anyone who causes animals unreasonable and unnecessary pain and distress. Quite simply, this sort of cruelty will not be tolerated."
Murphy was also ordered to pay court costs of $130 and witness expenses of $100.