Australia to suspend cattle trade to Vietnam after bludgeoning video

Australia's live cattle trade to some Vietnamese abattoirs will be suspended, after video footage emerged of animals being bludgeoned to death.

Video released by Animals Australia shows cows being beaten to death with sledgehammers, with the group claiming the animals were Australian and the clip was filmed in Vietnam last month. 

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce described the footage as disturbing and "totally abhorrent".

He said the Australian industry was moving to stop exports to any relevant abattoirs. 

"It has not yet been confirmed on the evidence available whether the cattle were originally sourced from Australia, however the Australian industry has already taken action to suspend all exports to identified Vietnamese abattoirs," Mr Joyce said.

Animals Australia campaign director Lyn White said the footage was "the most shocking" she had ever seen.

"I thought I'd seen it all, and I haven't," she told the ABC.