A Monaghan farmer is counting the cost after 17 of his cattle were stolen from an out-farm last week. The stock had an estimated value of approximately €8,000

David Hall from Newbliss checked on his stock at approximately 5pm last Tuesday and when he went to them again at midday on Wednesday, the 17 animals had been stolen. The out-farm is about two miles from Hall’s home.

There were 13 heifers and four bulls, all of which were calves in the region of six months of age. The animals were a mix of Jersey, Friesian cross and Swedish Reds out of a Jersey cow.

Hall is puzzled as to why he was targeted.

“There’s a right bit of theft of cattle in the area but it’s usually the beef and suckler lads that are hit,” Hall said.

“The cattle that are stolen are usually ones that have a bit of meat for slaughtering or that can be moved into another herd and have the tags replaced. Mine aren’t really like that,” he explained.

Unconventional stock

“My stock are that bit more unconventional for putting into a herd and wouldn’t have as much meat as a suckler animal,” he added.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands the cattle were most likely stolen for placing in a dairy herd and were not stolen for slaughter.

The gardaí confirmed to Hall that they are following a definite line of inquiry.

“The gardaí here have told me that they’re looking at a specific avenue all right. They say they’ve been following a couple of vehicles that were in the area around the time the cattle were stolen, so hopefully they throw up something.

“It’s a huge loss to me – hopefully something can be done,” Hall admitted.