THE National Farmers' Union (NFU) has spoken out on the 'huge' issue of sheep theft for farms in Cumbria. 

Police have launched an investigation after 25 sheep were stolen from a field between Appleby and Maulds Meaburn on March 6. Cumbria Police said that the sheep have a blue mark on their side. 

Sheep theft, also known as sheep-rustling, often leads to the animals being sold on the black market.

James Airey, from the north-west branch of the NFU, said: "Sheep theft is a huge rural problem. The price of sheep for the last couple of years has remained high in both the fat market and the breeding sector.

"It isn’t just the financial cost of replacing these animals that hurts farmers, the emotional and mental cost is much larger and often goes unseen.

"Cumbrian Farmers are proud to produce quality livestock and many breeding sheep are kept on the farm for many years. The stress caused by their disappearance and not knowing their fate is immeasurable and often devastating for the whole family. 

READ MORE: Sheep rustling on the rise says Cumbria Police

"The fear that they (the thieves) may return often lingers for months if not years."

During the pandemic, Cumbria saw a rise in sheep thefts in line with the rest of the UK.

Police said that not only is the act illegal but the meat produced undermines welfare standards. This is because stolen animals are usually slaughtered in unregulated abattoirs. 

A spokesperson from Cumbria Wildlife Crime Unit said that 'this, in turn, can post a threat to human health.'

They said: "Unfortunately, many of those involved in these illegal activities are well organised, using quads and sheep dogs to load large numbers of sheep on to trailers late at night.

"Preventing sheep rustling is no easy task. However, there are measures that can be put in place by farmers to reduce the risk of theft and also trace stolen livestock."

This includes marking the sheep, keeping up-to-date records, and grazing livestock in fields away from roads. 

Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it, quoting incident number 109 of 6 March 2023. You can also phone 101.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111