Waikato University professor of agribusiness Jacqueline Rowarth says farmers abusing animals are not indicative of the whole industry.
Hidden camera footage has emerged of the mistreatment of bobby calves. An investigation has been launched into the footage, taken on dairy farms in the Waikato and Taranaki in August by animal activist group Farmwatch.
In an interview with Jamie Mackay on The Country, Professor Rowarth said: "We have some wife beaters out there, we have some child abusers out there, and we have people that are abusing small animals, but they are a very small proportion."
She also called out media outlets using the word torture in relation to the calf abuse. She said in her mind it was more a case of mishandling.
Listen to the full interview above.
