UPDATED 1.17pm: The slaughter man whose cruel mistreatment of more than 100 bobby calves was caught on camera has been sentenced to home detention.

Noel Erickson, 38, has escaped a jail term but was sentenced in the Huntly District Court today to 10 months home detention and 200 hours community work.

Judge Merelina Burnett called the mistreatment, which involved the kicking, hitting and throwing of bobby calves, as "outside the job description" of Erickson, who was secretly filmed by Farmwatch New Zealand.

Waikato reporter Sam Carran says Erickson has also been banned from owning a pet for three years.

"Erickson stood silently with his eyes down as his treatment of the calves was read out, which included hitting them and kicking them in the head, and dropping them headfirst on the concrete floor."

His lawyer accepted that his behaviour was unacceptable and over the top, but said he was told by his managers to do it and he didn't want to lose his job."

Save Animals From Exploitation executive director Hans Kriek said the sentence was finally justice for the abused calves.

However he said SAFE remained concerned not enough was being done to protect the welfare of millions of calves born into the dairy industry each year.

Around 2 million calves were surplus to requirements each year.