Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has confirmed the use of blunt force to euthanise calves will be banned, except in unforeseen emergency cases, Radio New Zealand reports.
In February Guy asked the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to look at changing the rules after publicity about young calves being bludgeoned to death on a New Zealand-owned farm in Chile.
He says NAWAC received more than 350 submissions, with a large number supporting the proposed changes.
As a result, the code of welfare for dairy cattle will be reissued with amendments covering the humane destruction of calves on farms. It will come into effect on June 13, ahead of this year's calving season.