Health warning after Cumbria sheep rustling incidents (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Health warning after Cumbria sheep rustling incidents

10:39am Wednesday 24th February 2010 in

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POLICE are investigating two sheep rustling incidents in the county and are urging the public to be vigilant after one herd was injected with a vaccine which could be extremely harmful to humans.

A herd of ten sheep worth £1,000 was stolen from Greenmount Farm, Crooklands, between Wednesday, February 17 and Friday, February 19, while 14 sheep have been taken from a common area of the B6260 in Appleby over the past month.

The Crooklands sheep were Herdwick ewes, heavy with lamb, and at the beginning of the month were injected with Trodax, an anti-parasite compound designed to kill Liver Fluke which can prove extremely harmful if their meat is consumed within 49 days of the injection.

Over the past month 14 north country cheviot ewes have gone missing from Orton Common, near Appleby. The two incidents are not being linked.

Police are appealing to anyone with information, including any person, restaurant or butchers who may be offered sheep from an unknown or suspicious source, to contact their local police officer on 0845 33 00 247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.