An animal advocacy group has slammed a 42-day jail sentence given to a man who mowed down emus with his ute on an outback Victorian road and posted the footage online.

Jacob Scott MacDonald committed the sickening attack on Pellaring Road at Cowangie, near the South Australian border, last September.

Jacob MacDOnald Credit:Seven News

Video posted to social media sparked a nationwide manhunt before MacDonald was charged with animal cruelty and traffic offences and sentenced in Mildura Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Wildlife Victoria said his punishment was "insulting to the community".