Agriculture officials have yet to hear from sheep reportedly upset they've been sworn at.
An extraordinary complaint, in which animal activists reported shearers at a NSW property for abuse because they were upsetting the herd with abusive language, generated global headlines last week.
While the case has been dropped, the issue came up at a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday with Nationals senator John Williams demanding to know if department officials had received any formal complaints - from the sheep themselves.
"Not yet senator," policy official Fran Freeman said.
Senator Williams said it was infuriating "do-gooders" were making assumptions that sheep could understand English.
"Give us a break," he said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has defended its complaint arguing it did not just involve offensive language but physical abuse, including stomping and punching of the sheep.
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