[Fowgill Farm]

See BBC link re sheep rustling in North Yorks, we don't have sheep but know loads of you guys do so be vigilant.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-15369164

best of Mandy 

[Pasture Farm]

There were 1500 taken nearby a short while ago 

[ellisr]

this was happening in Devon and a farmer that had been hit numerous times dyed all his sheep (harmless to the sheep) bright orange

[Penninehillbilly]

dyed all his sheep (harmless to the sheep) bright orange

I remember seeing that n the news, wouldn't it be fun to see all different coloured sheep in the fields  . (not for long though, I'm a traditionalist ).

[ellisr]

me too but TBH if it stops rustlers I will go to some lengths to keep my sheep too

[Fowgill Farm]

Anybody see the One Show tonight even sheep rustling mad the news there, kate bevan was in NI looking at a retina scanner for sheep id, quite interesting.
mandy 

[robert waddell]

it must be one of the hardest things to come to terms with stock there one day and gone the next and hee haw you can do about it if you catch the scummy barstewards
1500 sheep is a big number to get sales for or butcher in a kitchen never mind get rid of the fleece guts and head and what about there tags   now if older sheep were electronically tagged this might reduce
or am i missing something

[Padge]

It is thought to be one of the biggest thefts of livestock in recent history. Local paper reported only wednesday 3 people arrested in connection with it. Police say likely to have been sold/processed through unlicenced abattoirs

[robert waddell]

how can there be unlicensed abattoirs how can they dispose of the waste    something is just not right

[Fowgill Farm]

By unlicensced abbattoirs i take they mean a farmer's or AN Other's big shed and then the waste is probably buried or dumped! 
Either that or they have a kosher abbattoir with dodgy staff who do dodgy dealings on the side and the waste just goes thro the oficial channels.
Mandy 

[lachlanandmarcus]

More large scale rustling, this time in Aberdeenshire; the only query I have about this article was how long the sheep seem to have been left with no checking of them. But still.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2486774

[Fowgill Farm]

Today on BBc news websitte

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15590212

Now somebody has to know where these have gone?

Be safe everyone.
Mandy 

[waterhouse]

The fact that such a vast number of animals can go missing from a system designed for 100% traceability points out just how effective the tagging system isn't.  What with the complete pigs ear (sorry) now being made of the pig movement system not to mention the horse passport farce HMG remains covered with ordure when it comes to systems. 

I could mention the NHS and the MoD as further examples of quite amazingly bloody expensive unfit for purpose systems procurement but it would be unkind.  And true.

[mmu]

Here, here, and again here, here, waterhouse.  Most of it's a complete waste of time and money.  I would hate my sheep to go in the night, so to speak, but my biggest regret would be how far most of my lines go back, and all the memories associated with them.  Also I don't imagine there is any thought given to their welfare while they are waiting for the knife or bullet.  Doesn't bear thinking about.  Law or no law, if I catch them trying it on here it's the old shotgun treatment.  The digger would come in handy as well, taste of own medicine comes to mind.

[ambriel]

this was happening in Devon and a farmer that had been hit numerous times dyed all his sheep (harmless to the sheep) bright orange

They do that on the Isle of Mull where we used to live. Not so much as an anti-theft tactic but so the farmer could count his sheep from the roadside rather than going up into the hills.

Got a photo somewhere.