Breeder puzzled over 'ram raid' (From Stroud News and Journal)

Breeder puzzled over 'ram raid'

A PEDIGREE sheep breeder is baffled after a prize ram worth more than £750 was apparently stolen from his farm in Horsley.

Sheep rearer Ernie Hemmings, 59, discovered the nine-month-old ram was missing from his herd of top quality Suffolk Sheep around 4.30pm on Thursday.

Although there is no direct evidence to suggest sheep rustlers were at work, circumstances suggest the ram - which was exhibited at the Three Counties Show in June - has been stolen.

"I cannot say anybody has stolen it because I didn't see anybody but the beast has certainly gone," said Mr Hemmings.

"I do not think it got out on its own because if one sheep goes they all follow.

"And there are three fields of females here - I would have thought he would go straight to them."

There are no breaks in the fence but part of the hedge near the road has been cut away, perhaps as a getaway route for the raiders.

Mr Hemmings has spent 15 years building up the quality of his herd and this is the time of year when he usually sells young sheep to other breeders. He is still selling more of his quality rams.

"It doesn't happen overnight," he said. "It is annoying - he has just gone."

Prize-winning Suffolk rams can fetch five figure sums at specialist sales, with the very best going for as much as £45,000.

But Joy Fox from the Suffolk Sheep Society said that as the sheep was already registered with Mr Hemmings, it would be almost impossible to sell to other breeders.

"I have heard of this happening occasionally but people are not normally dumb enough to go for the show stocks," she said. "You wouldn't be able to register it.

"That would mean the only thing it is good for is breeding lambs for lamb chops, which is a bit of a waste."

Anyone with information on the disappearance should call Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234.