Four shearers have been fined and disqualified from handling sheep after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges.

The men appeared in the Horsham Magistrates Court in Victoria on Friday after pleading guilty in February to a combined 60 animal cruelty charges.

Evidence against the shearers included hidden camera footage obtained by animal rights group PETA.

In February, a packed court room was shown videos of sheep being repeatedly punched in the face, beaten with shearing handpieces, gouged in the eyes sockets, lifted and slammed to the ground, and stomped on by shearers.

Many of the animals were seen stumbling away bleeding from the eyes, nose and mouth.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the men's conduct was "demeaning to the iconic image of the Australian shearer".

"Shearing has been the source and inspiration for much of Australia's heritage," he said.

"It's been a symbol of our nation."

What goes on in shed no longer stays in shed

Magistrate Stratmann noted the importance of the case for the industry and said it was clear attitudes had already changed.

"For decades, what goes on in a shearing shed would stay in the shed," he said.

"But that is no longer the case."

Earlier this week a billboard targeting drug and animal abuse in shearing sheds was placed in Horsham by animal rights group PETA.

In his remarks, Magistrate Stratmann emphasised there was no evidence of illicit drug use, and any assertion to the contrary was "a mischief".

Six shearers charged after investigation

The case began in 2013 when two people fitted with video cameras obtained work as roustabouts in shearing sheds in locations including Rupanyup, Nurrabiel and Moyston, and documented what they described as cruel shearing practices.

The footage was posted online by PETA, prompting Agriculture Victoria to launch a full-scale investigation.

That investigation resulted in six shearers being referred for prosecution.

In December, a 60-year-old Lucindale man was the first to be successfully prosecuted.

In Friday's sentencing, Bradley James Arnold, 39, from Natimuk was fined $3,500 and disqualified from owning or being in charge of a sheep for two years.

Jake Lachlan Williams, 23, from Horsham was fined $2,000 and disqualified from owning or being in charge of a sheep for one year.

Graham Ivan Batson, 49, from Keith was fined $3,000 and disqualified from owning or being in charge of a sheep for two years.

Lindsay David Gillin, 61, from Hamilton disqualified from owning or being in charge of a sheep for one year.