Farmer Paints His Sheep Orange to Prevent Thieves From Stealing
John Heard decided desperate measures were needed to stop the raids that were decimating his flocks.
And his solution to the problem has created an eye-catching sensation on his farm after he turned his sheep orange.
The 48-year-old has put his flock of 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dip of orange dye making them so highly visible wary thieves are giving them a wide berth.
Mr Heard, who runs his livestock farm near Okehampton, Devon had lost 200 sheep over the past few years but says the orange dye is working wonders.
He explained:”Sheep rustling has become a big problem with ewes worth around £140 each. My flock roams Dartmoor and I was getting mighty fed-up with losing so many.
“My son James suggested the orange dye and although it produces some strange looking sheep it has done the trick and I haven’t lost one this year.
“It works because they are so easy to distinguish making it easier for me and my neighbours to keep a wary eye out for them. Plus the rustlers are obviously nervouse about stealing such easily distinguished animals.”
The non-toxic dye does the sheep no harm and they lambing in peace this year, added Mr Hard who is the third generation in his West Country family to run the farm where he also raises cattle.
The dye eventually wears off with no side effects for the animals but has caused bemused reactions from onlookers.
The National Farmer’s Union has warned that the financial hardship facing the country has led to a big increase in rural crimes like sheep rustling.
There has been a five-fold increase in sheep thefts this year. A spokeswoman for the NFU Mutual, who insure farmers, said “There has been a sizeable rise in livestock rustling, particularly targeting sheep.
“The price of lamb is so high and in a recession people may be more willing to accept meat from unreliable soruces.
“But stolen sheep tend to be taken to unlicensed abattoirs raising the issue of meat being sold with the normal health checks. If you buy from those sources you obviously cannot be absolutely certain the meat is fit for human consumption.
“In the circumstances orange sheep seem like a very good idea.”
Mr Heard got the inspiration for his orange flock after his so told him he knew a farmer in Scotland who had dyed his sheep before an agricultural show.
Mr Heard added:”Other farmers as well as a fair few ramblers have been shocked but others have said they are now willing to try the idea if it works.
“At the moment it is doing exactly what I hoped it would and stopping the rustlers in their tracks.”.
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