The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bramblecot on January 11, 2014, 04:44:00 pm

Title: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 11, 2014, 04:44:00 pm
 :furious: :furious: :furious:   Went to check the sheep this afternoon and some thieving b888ards have taken 3 overnight.  My old original GFD ewe who is hand tame, and her ewe lamb from last year.  Plus a tiny undersized Shetland ewe lamb that was hand reared. 
They disconnected the electric fence and used it to bundle them into a corner of the field out of sight from the road and the village.

I can't tell you how  :furious: :furious: and  :'( :'( :'( I am.  Their tag numbers are 347284/174 (ewe), 350510/27 GFD lamb and 350510/34 tiny mixed brown Shetland lamb.

Reward offered for information or their safe return.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Hillview Farm on January 11, 2014, 05:05:34 pm
That's awful! I am so sorry and I hope they are returned. Where abouts are you?
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: kelly58 on January 11, 2014, 05:08:11 pm
So sorry to hear that bramblecot, same thing happening up here in Caithness Were are you ?
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 11, 2014, 05:14:56 pm
Sorry, should have said...West Dorset, near Bridport.  If anyone out there does FB, can you put it on for me please..
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Old Shep on January 11, 2014, 05:50:52 pm
that's just horrible,  :bouquet: :bouquet:
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 11, 2014, 05:55:34 pm
Oh that's horrible.  I feel for you  :hug:  :bouquet:
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 11, 2014, 08:11:21 pm
Awful for you.  They hadn't by any chance just had vetmeds with a withdrawal period, had they?  The likelihood they may be slaughtered and enter the food chain illegally with a withdrawal period still in place might make the local newspapers/Police take more notice than usual.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: mowhaugh on January 11, 2014, 08:55:47 pm
Very sorry to hear that.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Mammyshaz on January 11, 2014, 09:33:00 pm
 :hug: hope you get them back. Daren't comment on the ....... :furious: that think they can take whatever they want!!
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: kanisha on January 11, 2014, 10:19:26 pm
 :rant: I hope you manage to get them back  :bouquet:
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 12, 2014, 09:44:10 am
Have you considered getting the local papers involved.  Given their appearance it's seems likely they've been stolen as pets.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Tim W on January 12, 2014, 10:39:10 am
I had a trailer load stolen a few years back---despite having DNA samples from all sheep and all being EID no one wanted to know, neither police nor DEFRA/animal movements
It's happening more often and I unfortunately assume they end up with new tags and being put directly into the food chain within hours of theft  :(
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: kelly58 on January 12, 2014, 12:16:01 pm
They dont just steal your sheep up here they take the bl...dy gate as well ! If it will sell they will take it  >:(
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 12, 2014, 12:51:02 pm
That is what is so frustrating  >:( - the electric fencing and hurdles were worth more money than my poor old (but much-loved) clapped out ewe and a strange little runt that will only make mini-steaks.  The GFD ewe lamb was small but quite nice, but in the same group were 6 decent wethers ready to go ??? .  So why take the girls?  If they were after breeding ewes, there were 12 marked in lamb...
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: lizzypeg on January 12, 2014, 01:28:47 pm
posted this on facebook pages for you.

sorry to hear this..i dread this happening to my hand reared ewe whos a pet.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Victorian Farmer on January 12, 2014, 02:02:07 pm
More and more stolen no money feed .They must be using a place to slarter .
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 12, 2014, 03:29:58 pm
Bush telegraph.  I think I know who had them >:( .  The place is like Fort Knox and I'm likely to get fed to the pigs.....the girls will be on hooks now :'( :'( and the fighting dogs will be having the bones.  I hate some people.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: sabrina on January 12, 2014, 03:37:40 pm
OMG
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bionic on January 12, 2014, 04:14:08 pm
oh no, thats sooo sad  :bouquet:
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Lorrie66 on January 12, 2014, 05:03:33 pm
Hi Bramblecote - really sorry to hear this - very upsetting.
Hope they are returned to you soon. I guess you could keep a look out on sites advertising sheep for sale in case by any long shot any seem to fit the description..... not sure what else apart from local papers as some one else suggested.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: moprabbit on January 12, 2014, 06:30:39 pm
So sorry to hear this. I just wish there could be a happy ending.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Greenerlife on January 12, 2014, 07:42:47 pm
Bush telegraph.  I think I know who had them >:( .  The place is like Fort Knox and I'm likely to get fed to the pigs.....the girls will be on hooks now :'( :'( and the fighting dogs will be having the bones.  I hate some people.


police?  RSPCA?
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 13, 2014, 12:51:45 am
The family concerned firebombed the house of the local Police Sergeant a few years ago and ran a tractor over a police car - so I am rather small fry.  Will be going to the local paper this morning, and the local  slaughtermen are looking out for them - but they will be dealt with on site I think :'( .
Thanks for your kind words.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 13, 2014, 01:00:11 am
Sorry to carry on...but I should add that they were carried 200 yards over a field (no drag marks), then heaved over a padlocked 5' gate barred with hurdles straight into a van/truck.  So beef up your security folks.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: bloodhound on January 13, 2014, 08:25:14 am
really sorry to hear this :( if you have a contact number Ill add it to the original text and put it on our livestock page, we are in devon
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: TheCaptain on January 13, 2014, 09:04:00 am
Sorry to carry on...but I should add that they were carried 200 yards over a field (no drag marks), then heaved over a padlocked 5' gate barred with hurdles straight into a van/truck.  So beef up your security folks.


I've stuck it on Facebook. By the sounds of it, if they want to nick it then it is going to go!
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: OhLaLa on January 13, 2014, 11:42:08 am
Sorry to read this. What area are you? My concern would be that they might be back for more.

If the field is close enough to the house (or an outbuilding with electricity) there are some good long range cctv cameras available, but if not close enough, maybe take a look at investing in a remote field camera or two. Buy one with an invisible I.R., hidden in the hedgerow they are difficult to spot, throw off no light at night (or day) and as are so difficult to see are unlikely to be stolen. They can be set to take photos, video, or both. You can also buy ones that connect to the Internet so as soon as they are triggered they take a photo and send it to the mobile/s of your choosing. With one of those cameras if someone did decide to pinch anything (sheep or camera) you'd have a photo of them doing it. Another advantage with that model of camera is you can alert the authorities whilst they are still on site.

Hope all goes well.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: Bramblecot on January 13, 2014, 05:21:29 pm
Thanks Blood hound, I'll pm you our details.

Oh La La - first thing we did was move a covert camera down there - but sadly too little too late  :( .  And yes, my worry is that they will be back for more.
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: kelly58 on January 13, 2014, 05:45:34 pm
May sound a bit crazy but do you have enough farming/smallholder people living near who would get involved
in a neighborhood watch, to take it in turns to walk round each others land at night and keep watch ?
Or some mates who would help ? Just a thought :thinking:
Title: Re: Sheep stolen
Post by: sabrina on January 14, 2014, 02:32:21 pm
A few years ago one of my neighbours had a sow stolen. She was in a pen with two others. Not a sound was heard and she was never found. The police had a good idea who had done it but could not prove a thing.