Police investigate theft of 350 ewes in southern NSW

A southern NSW farmer has reported that thieves broke into his property and stole 350 ewes – worth more than $100,000 – and shot two alpacas.

A southern NSW farmer says thieves broke into his property and stole more than $100,000 worth of ewes, and shot two alpacas.

Paul Funnell of Collingullie near Wagga Wagga found his two alpacas, which had been guarding the sheep, shot dead in a paddock within about 200 metres of each other last week.

He then realised 350 ewes and 12 rams were missing.

“It is going to be difficult to recover from this,” he said.

Mr Funnell said the Dorper ewes that were about to start lambing were an essential part of his future income.

“This is difficult to withstand financially, and we can’t recover the genetics.”

He said some of the ewes were White Dorpers, and others had distinct black heads and necks.

Because the ewes were mixed age and on the point of lambing, he said it would be difficult to transport them directly to the saleyards or abattoirs.

He said it was likely the sheep were taken somewhere and had their National Livestock Identification Scheme tags removed.

The tags had the number: NH553101.

Mr Funnell said stock had been stolen from his property in the past, but nothing like this in terms of numbers.

“We had stock stolen in around 2009 or 2010,” he said.

Police from the Rural Crime Prevention Team in NSW say the alleged theft occurred between

Monday, March 20 and Sunday, March 25.

The property is located on Mondowey Lane at Collingullie, and this road was closed recently due to flooding.

Rural Crime Prevention Team Investigators from Cootamundra are seeking assistance from the public. Police urge anyone with information to call Cootamundra police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.