Glenn and Kate Berg heartbroken after Hereford bull killed

A local family is “distraught” and has contacted police after its beloved Hereford bull was shot dead at their North East Victorian farm.

A beloved Hereford bull has been shot and killed in North East Victoria leaving a local family “heartbroken” while police investigate who is responsible.

The Berg family’s Hereford bull, Ferrari, purchased in 2020, was found dead in one of their leased paddocks, near Jamieson about 37km south of Mansfield, on Tuesday December 13 with a bullet wound in its head.

Victoria Police are appealing for information after Ferrari was located deceased in a paddock adjacent to the Eildon-Jamieson Rd, Jamieson, believed to have been shot between December 9-13.

Kate Berg said her husband Glenn and her family have been left distraught by the incident.

“It is pretty awful, he was our only bull and we treated him like our pet,” Mrs Berg said.

“He was very tame and we would have family, friends and people from the town coming to visit him.

The Berg family’s Hereford bull, Ferrari, was killed last week. Picture: Kate Berg

“He was more than just a breeding bull, he was one of our pets.”

Mrs Berg said the family run about 25 breeders, and bought Ferrari from renowned breeders TRT Pastoral at their Howquadale Station in 2020, pairing him with their herd of heifers purchased locally.

At the June 2021 Wodonga cattle sales the Bergs sold their first cattle ever and topped the sale on a cents a kilogram basis when their pen of Poll Herefords, 238kg, made $1675 or 704c/kg.

Mrs Berg said Ferrari’s death was even more painful as they were planning on sending him out with their heifers on Wednesday last week.

Matt Birch, Corcoran Parker, Mansfield, with then-first time vendors Glenn and Kate Berg of Jamieson, who sold Poll Hereford steers, 238kg, for $1675 or 704c/kg at the June 2021 Wodonga cattle sales. Picture: Fiona Myers

“We are not quite sure what we will do for our season now, we may miss a season of breeding,” she said.

“It has really affected the community and as a whole everyone’s a little bit shaken by it.”

Police are investigating the incident and suspect the death is the result of illegal spot lighting activity.

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact Mansfield Police on 03 5775 2555 or Jamieson Police on 03 5777 0505.

Anyone who would like to report information anonymously can do so by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or by submitting a report at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/