Robin Ballantyne, of Alexandra, had shifted his mob of about 35 mixed-age sheep and lambs on to the Gilligans Gully Rd block for grazing on Wednesday afternoon and was back to survey the damage the following morning, after neighbours alerted him to the attack.
''It's not very bloody good, is it?'' Mr Ballantyne said, as he counted the dead sheep and lambs scattered over the 13ha block, including three in the irrigation dam.
Central Otago District Council planning and environment manager Louise van der Voort said it was believed up to three dogs were involved. A purebred Staffordshire bull terrier was shot and killed at the scene by a witness and two other dogs - one black and tan and described as a collie-cross and a bigger black dog, possibly a Staffordshire-cross pig-dog type, ran off.
Ms van der Voort said the owner of the dead dog had been located and it was too early in the investigation to determine whether the owner would face any charges. That person did not own the other two dogs involved, she said.
As part of the investigation, staff would scan the database of registered dogs, to see if the owners of the other two could be identified.
''Otherwise, we're relying on observations and information from members of the public. Any information or sightings of the dogs would be helpful.
''This has been a serious incident - one of the worst in several years.''
The matter might be linked to a dog attack last week, in which seven sheep and six hens were killed and several other sheep were mauled, on five different lifestyle blocks near Airport Rd and Manuherikia Rd.
''That's still to be determined and we need to get a better picture of that ... but dogs do travel some distance, so it's possible. We're following up all of those reports, '' Ms van der Voort said. Mr Ballantyne said he was ''beyond angry'' about the attack.
''You probably can't print what I'd like to say about it.
''I only put them in this block yesterday.''
He believed the incident was connected to the earlier, similar attacks.
''They sound as if it is ... once a dog attacks a sheep and gets a taste for it ... there's no stopping them.''
The sheep which were killed would be worth at least $100 each.
The owner of the Gilligans Gully block, Stuart McPherson, of Alexandra, said he called at the property on Thursday morning and one of the neighbours had already found the first dead sheep, near the gate. He and another neighbour saw the dogs on the property.
''They ... ran out on to the road and disappeared across the back, heading over the hills.
''They must've been here half the night, to do the damage they did, just killing the sheep and leaving them. It's very sad.''
Sergeant Derek Ealson, of Alexandra, confirmed police had also been advised of the incident.
