FARMING
Farmers on alert after sheep theft and butchery incidents
Gloucestershire farmers have been put on alert, after it was revealed that sheep rustling is on the increase and a spate of illegal sheep butchery is taking place on their doorstep. According to figures released by NFU Mutual, the insurer of more than three quarters of the UK’s farmers, farm animals worth £2.5m were stolen in 2018 – an 11% rise in cost over two years. Tim Price, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “A generation ago, rustling was typically a local crime involving a couple of lambs or half a dozen geese being taken ‘for the pot’. Now it’s an organised crime with dozens or even hundreds of sheep worth thousands of pounds being taken in a single raid. “Thieves are even using working sheepdogs - some of which have also been stolen - to round up hundreds of sheep, which are then loaded into trailers or lorries late at night.” The report coincides with news of gangs taking the thefts one step further in counties bordering Gloucestershire, with a number of incidents of sheep being illegally slaughtered on sites in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire and police warning farmers in neighbouring counties to be extra vigilant. A spate of highly organised, large-scale sheep thefts in recent months suggests the cost of rustling is continuing at high levels, making livestock theft the most costly crime for the UK’s farming sector, after the theft of agricultural vehicles and farm machinery. NFU Mutual is also concerned by the recent reports of animals being butchered in fields, which is further undermining food safety. NFU Mutual estimates rural crime cost the UK countryside £44.5m in 2017, the most recent figures available. Tim Price added: “Rustling is one of the world's oldest crimes. Even when our ancient ancestors kept goats in prehistoric times, rustling was a feature of farming. “Livestock theft is particularly devastating for small farms, as the loss of a number of stock can wipe out profits and disrupt the operation of the farm for years as they rebuild ‘hefted’ flocks.”
NFU Mutual advises farmers and butchers buying stock to check livestock records and ear tags carefully to make sure they are not buying stolen animals. Members of the public are also being advised to be wary of buying meat from unusual sources, because there may be health hazards as well as a risk they could be buying meat from rustled livestock. Warwickshire Police say: “Theft and illegal butchery of sheep is a serious offence, which can cause suffering to the animals and financial repercussions to farmers. Enquiries are currently ongoing… and we would urge anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity or has any information that could help our enquiries to please come forward. “We also ask all owners of livestock and residents who live near fields with livestock in to be extra vigilant and report any concerns to us. There is also concern that these offenders are chasing the sheep before catching some of the animals and this
may have caused problems with the rest of the flock, such as health risks to the ewes and unborn lambs.
“We are warning all sheep farmers to stay extra vigilant, particularly those who have fields in more remote locations. Always ensure gates are locked and are in good order and stock is regularly checked and accounted for.” The South West NFU urges farmers to make use of surveillance cameras when flocks are in the vicinity of the farm, check all gates and fences are in a good state of repair and share information. The spokesman said:
“Gloucestershire Police do take rural crime reports very seriously and have established a rural crime team, which encourages farmers to be more inclined to report incidents. Sharing of intelligence is vital. If farmers see suspicious vehicles, then sharing this information with police and
64 | May 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs