Cornish Mutual is warning that the current high price of lamb could lead to a rise in claims for sheep rustling.
Since the beginning of the year, the insurer has dealt with a number of cases linked to stolen animals, one of which involved the theft of eight sheep in the St Ewe area of Cornwall.
According to the firm, a ewe going for mutton can currently fetch around £100 and store lambs around £60, so the company is keen to raise awareness of the issue.
Spokesman, Alan Goddard, comments: “One case near Bodmin involved the theft of 27 lamb ewes during the night earlier this year – the ewes were grazing on common ground near the farm when they vanished with the only conclusion being that they were rustled.”
Roger Hosken, loss adjuster with South West Claims Service, has also noted a significant increase in the number of sheep rustling cases.
He concludes: “Overall, the sheep trade has hardened over the last six months and there’s a direct link between the value of the animals on the open market and an increase in sheep rustling incidents.”
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