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Duffers steal rare breeding cattle
17 Jun 2003
Cattle breeding consultant Helen Fleming covers 13 kilometres of properties during her regular rounds in country Victoria. On the morning of June 8 she noticed vehicle tracks leading from a Katunga property gate and that a padlock and chain had been replaced.
She then discovered that thieves had taken 116 Bazadaise cows and calves valued at $600,000. Ms Fleming works for the herd's owners and said nearly every female cow was pregnant. The herd was part of a trial IVF program.
There are only about 280 purebred Bazadaise cows in Australia, and the Katunga herd was the nation's biggest. The herd's owners had been building a breeding stock for two years.
Ms Fleming said the thieves knew exactly what they were looking for, as they left behind about 20 other cattle. She doesn't believe the stolen cows are heading for a meatworks or a saleyard.
Cobram police said the theft was well planned. Two livestock vehicles were seen leaving the property on Sunday morning, but loading a herd of cattle is not something unusual in farming areas.
The Age, 17/6/03.
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