A contract milker and an Invercargill farming business have been fined for mistreating more than 100 cattle.

Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

Green Grass Farms and Wilem Barend Wouters were sentenced and fined nearly $10,000 altogether under the Animal Welfare Act for breaking tails.

The company was fined $4500 while Wouters was given a $5000 fine in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.

Ministry for Primary Industries' inspectors and a vet visited the property in February and found 101 cattle with broken tails.

Animal welfare compliance manager Gray Harrison said excessive force would have been needed causing irreversible pain and distress.

He said the animals would be in discomfort and pain for the rest of their lives.