‘Meat thieves’ butcher sheep to death in field
Police are investigating after thieves butchered to death a sheep in a farm field. The attack in Worcestershire is the latest in a string of suspected “meat thefts” which have been increasing across the country in recent weeks.
Farmer William Acock said his devastated brother found the remains of an inland ewe when he checked his flock of 140 sheep at Broomhall Farm, Kempsey, near Worcester.
“Whoever did this must have cornered the sheep, held it down, killed it and then skinned it before taking the carcass,” said Mr Acock.
“They took nearly everything. All that was left was the bottom jaw, which was snapped off, and the skin.”
The brothers believe the dead sheep was an orphaned lamb they had bought a couple of years ago, which was friendlier toward humans than the rest of the flock.
Mr Acock believes the opportunist thieves gained access to the farm field via the busy A38 road, which borders the farm.
“We imagine that someone killed the sheep so they could sell on the meat illegally to make some money before Christmas,” Mr Acock said.
West Mercia Police are investigating the attack, which happened sometime between 7pm Tuesday (11 December) and 8am Wednesday (12 December).
A police spokesman confirmed: “We have received a report of a sheep being deliberately killed in a field off the A38, near Kempsey, which we are investigating.”
Last month, Farmers Weekly reported that 10 sheep had been found butchered to death in a farm field in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester.
In October, the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society (DLPS) warned that animals were being dismembered as they graze on Dartmoor in Devon, or stolen alive.
Rural insurer NFU Mutual has warned livestock farmers to remain vigilant over the growing trend in livestock crime.
Tim Price, rural affairs spokesman at NFU Mutual, said there has been a “massive increase” in livestock rustling over the past two years, which he blamed on higher meat prices and the economic downturn.
He also urged the public not to buy meat on the black market because eating illegally processed meat carried potentially serious health risks.
“Firstly, small numbers of animals are being taken and we have seen horrific examples of livestock being slaughtered in the field,” said Mr Price.
“It’s truly a horrific crime as animals are being slaughtered inhumanely without being stunned and then left to bleed to death.
“Butchering animals in the field is completely unhygienic and there is a risk to human health for people who buy and eat illegal meat.”
NFU Mutual estimates that more than 67,000 sheep were stolen in the UK last year and that rustling cost UK farmers more than £6m in 2011.
Warning after thieves butcher sheep in field
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