Receivers were getting mud on their gumboots yesterday as they came to grips with problems of Crafar Farms.

Fonterra says it won't hesitate to take action, "including refusal to collect milk" if deliberate animal mistreatment is proven.

New Zealand's biggest privately held dairying operation allowed dozens of calves to slowly dehydrate to death.

NZ's largest privately owned dairy operation is considering selling out to a Chinese company for over $200m.