Barristers Block tiny cow Olaf missing, feared stolen from winery

Olaf the speckled steer stands about 60cm tall and weighs no more than 40kg, with his carers fearing his adorable stature and personality has put him in the sights of callous criminals.

Olaf the tiny speckled cow is suspected to have been stolen from Barristers Block. Picture: Supplied

Olaf the tiny pet steer is missing from his home paddock at Barristers Block in the Adelaide Hills, with his owners and carers fearing he has been stolen.

He was last seen Friday afternoon but had vanished without a trace by Saturday morning and despite an extensive search through the vineyard and neighbouring properties, the beloved pet is yet to be found.

Stunted from birth due to a complicated delivery, Olaf stands about 60cm tall and weighs no more than 40kg.

He is so small and friendly, carer and wedding co-ordinator Julia Brown is able to pick him up and carry him, including to the vet when the beloved bovine decides he doesn’t want to go.

“He has literally just disappeared off the face of the Earth,” Ms Brown, 50, said.

“I wanted to believe he had wandered off and would wander back, and I spent 15 hours over the weekend searching, but now I do believe he has been stolen.”

Olaf is about the size of a fully grown labrador and stands about the same height as the geese he shares a pen with, along with alpacas, sheep, horses and chickens.

Olaf is about the same size as a labrador, but weighs a bit more. Picture: Barristers Block

As a steer he has no breeding value but is a beloved pet owned by Barristers Block in Woodside, and a favourite among the winery’s visitors.

Ms Brown has launched a public appeal for help finding the hairy speckled steer, but fears he has been stolen after she received a call from another person reporting a 600kg Highland cow disappeared from an Onkaparinga Hills property.

While the two animals are dramatically different in size, Ms Brown said it made her believe something sinister had happened to Olaf.

Olaf is so small and friendly, he can be easily picked up. Picture: Supplied

“Just bring him back; drop him in the middle of the night in the middle of the paddock, or drop him in somebody’s else’s paddock – no questions asked,” she said.

“I’m not interested in anything other than getting my little fella back.

“Everybody would like to keep him but the reality is he’s got a home, owners that love him, and five young grandchildren at Barristers Block who adore him.

“Every animal has been perfectly safe on the property.

“Somebody will see him somewhere and I just need it to register that he’s missing.”

Ms Brown said she had searched every inch of the winery and neighbouring properties, climbing through and under trees and shrubs and creeks, but had found no sign of Olaf.

She has made an initial report to police but told The Advertiser she planned to file an official report with them on Wednesday.