Calf clubbers 'sully farming'

Award-winning Waikato farm manager Zach Ward was shown in film footage clubbing calves on the head to kill them at a Chilean dairy farm. Photo / Warren Buckland

A minority of farmers are giving the dairy industry a bad name by continuing to use outdated practices to euthanise bobby calves, a Rotorua farmer says.

The dairy farmer, who did not wish to be named, said the practice of knocking bobby calves on the head with a hammer to kill them was outdated and was not used by 99.9 per cent of dairy farmers.

"Unfortunately we have a very small minority who still carry on the practice which has not been widely used for the past 10-15 years."

However, he said claims by groups that dairy farmers were only interested in getting rid of bobby calves as soon as possible because they were considered worthless were wrong.

Last week award-winning Waikato farm manager Zach Ward was shown in film footage clubbing calves on the head to kill them at a Chilean dairy farm.

Chilean authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged abuse on a farm managed by New Zealand-owned farming syndicate Manuka. Manuka milks 25,000 of Chile's total herd number of 450,000 cows.

A blunt instrument can legally be used to kill calves but was not common in New Zealand and farmers were encouraged to use a gun instead if the animal was suffering. A lethal injection was the accepted practice to kill calves in Chile.

Federated Farmers had reportedly described Mr Ward's actions as "having no passion towards animals".

The Rotorua farmer said yesterday the issue was "pretty sensitive" around the farming community.

"Farm practices have changed and I can say this is not the accepted way bobby calves are euthanised these days."

He said comments by groups in the media that farmers "just want to get rid" of bobby calves was "rubbish".

"At $45 a head, when you have around 400 of them that represents quite a bit of money and we want to use the best practice to maximise profit."

He said some calves which were sick have to be euthanised and farmers would use as humane practice as they could, normally with a "bolt" charge type gun.

"Many farmers care about their animals and don't want them suffering. On the whole 99.9 per cent of farmers are doing the right thing, unfortunately a small minority are not and that's pretty sad.

"It is important farmers are seen to be doing the right thing as we are selling a product to a number of markets and the public perception is important."

The farmer said he did not know Mr Ward and would not comment directly on the alleged Chilean incident.

The Rotorua Daily Post contacted other local farmers who declined to comment.

Federated Farmers Rotorua Taupo president Alan Wills was unavailable to comment.