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UPDATED 4.39pm:  The Ministry for Primary Industries said it's appalled by the recent footage showing alleged abuse of bobby calves.  

LISTEN: Andrew Hoggard of Federated Farmers defends the industry

Animal rights group SAFE has released footage of calves allegedly being abused and left to die on New Zealand farms.

It claims the dairy industry and MPI officials knew the abuse was going on.

Executive director Hans Kriek said he even made a complaint to MPI about the site where the footage was filmed.

"They allowed the slaughtermen to continue abusing those animals. If we can't even go to the authorities with evidence of serious abuse, where do we go?"

MPI's deputy director general regulation and assurance Scott Gallacher said they're disgusted in the footage.  

"To have anyone in New Zealand thinking they can treat animals in the way which we have seen on this footage is just appalling."  

He's confirmed they're investigating the footage.

• Andrew Hoggard: Farming cruelty not the norm

"We want to make sure that when we lay the charges they're strong enough, they're backed up by admissible evidence and we can get the outcome that all New Zealanders expect."

Meanwhile the dairy industry's voicing it's concern over the footage.  

Fonterra said it's taking immediate steps to deal with it, alongside the rest of the New Zealand dairy industry.

It's requested a meeting with SAFE, and is in contact with representatives from the meat industry to discuss the abuse.

Federated Farmers is shocked and appalled by footage that reveals brutal cruelty against bobby calves.

Dairy section chair Andrew Hoggard is very concerned about what he's seen.

But he told Mike Hosking these are the actions of a few, and most farmers don't behave this way.

"What we saw on those calves, none of them had tags that would be required for them to go to the proper meat processing works. So they were obviously destined for these little pet food operations like what we saw, and obviously you don't have the same over-watch at these operations."

Andrew Hoggard said it's important that the actions in such slaughter houses are above board and that they're being adequately monitored.

Dairy New Zealand chief executive Tim Mackle said the organisation will be asking questions of everyone involved.

He said 95% of farmers are compliant with animal welfare codes and take great care with their calves.

But he said cruelty cannot be tolerated and needs to be stamped out.

Hans Kriek said the footage should be a wake-up call to New Zealand about the need to diversify the economy away from dairy.

"Probably the best thing for the New Zealand economy, and a lot of economists are already saying it, is to diversify and move away from dairy, in a measured manner."