Stolen lambs ‘could be poisonous’ if meat is eaten

Police are warning about the theft of 16 lambs whose meat could be poisonous if it enters the food chain.

The lambs were stolen from a farm on Eglish Road, in Dungannon, County Tyrone, shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday (22 August).

But the farmer who owns the lambs told police that their meat was not ready for human consumption for another six weeks and could be poisonous to humans if eaten.

See also: Rural crime remains ‘persistent problem’

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) said the lambs could recently have been dosed with a wormer or fluke treatment and the withdrawal period had not been reached.

Chief Inspector Graham Dodds, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), urged meat processors to be extra vigilant if offered the sheep.

“I would ask any abattoirs to be aware of this and carry out the proper checks on any lambs that they come into contact with in the next few weeks.”

Northern Ireland is one of the most seriously affected regions for sheep rustling in the UK.

Organised gangs of rustlers have been blamed for a sharp rise in the crime over the last couple of years.

According to rural insurer NFU Mutual, sheep rustling cost the industry £6.6m in 2014. Northern Ireland was hit worst by rustlers, followed by the north east of England, including Yorkshire.

Anyone with information about this latest theft is asked to contact Dungannon police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.