A 51-year-old shearing contractor has been sentenced to 16 months in prison

Christopher John Tredinnick was sentenced for repeatedly hitting a lamb, causing its death.

He was also disqualified from exercising authority over, or being the person in charge of any animal for two years.

He was remanded in custody and given leave to apply for home detention.

MPI animal welfare national manager Gray Harrison says Mr Tredinnick's actions were appalling.

He says this kind of offending by shearers is unusual, and majority are professional, and do the right thing.