Most of the cattle, carried on the MV Statesman from Stanley to Port Welshpool in Victoria, were euthanised by Victorian government vets after it berthed.

MV Statesman owner Les Dick said conditions were satisfactory for the passage when the boat left Stanley on Saturday night.

"There were three waves, three waves only, five metre waves riding on the back of one another - they just sprang up out of nowhere," he said.

"The cattle were down and our men couldn't get into the pens. When the cattle are down, there is nothing you can do, at that stage - it wouldn't matter if Jesus Christ was on the boat, he wouldn't have been able to do anything."

The vessel was halfway across Bass Strait, carrying 207 cattle, when it was hit by the waves.

Mr Dick was critical of the response from Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff.

"He hasn't rung me, to get the story - not one person has asked me how the crew are faring," he said.

"My young deckhands were that sick they had to go off the deck. They couldn't stand seeing the cows being shot by the vets.

"My master, engineers and deckhands are absolutely as gutted, as I am."

Mr Rockliff said earlier in the week that he was appalled by the incident.

He said it was not appropriate to contact Mr Dick about the matter while a joint investigation into the deaths was under way.

The investigation will be conducted by Tasmanian and Victorian government departments and the RSPCA.

A spokesman for the Victorian Victorian Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Department said all circumstances of the deaths were being investigated.

"Understanding the cause is critical to preventing such incidents from recurring," the spokesman said.