A VET'S practice has warned sheep farmers in the Falmouth, Helston and Redruth areas to be on their guard after receiving reports of stock being professionally butchered in fields.

Coast To Coast Farm Vets based in Mitchell near Newquay posted the warning on its Facebook page saying: "DISTURBING POST: Care and vigilance to be taken in the Helston/Falmouth/Redruth area for all sheep owners following extremely sad and disturbing reports of sheep being professionally butchered in their fields."

They are urging all sheep farmers to be extra vigilant for any suspicious activity and report to the police in the first instance.

They also add that people have been seen in the fields but when asked what they were doing they said they were looking for mushrooms.

Police confirmed that they had received a report of a sheep having been killed in a field at Higher Carthew, Helston on October 7 and warned farmers to be aware. 

The flock were welfare checked on Saturday, October 7 at around 5pm but one sheep was found dead in the field the following morning. 

Anyone able to offer information is asked to call police on 101, or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting log 284 of 08/11/20. 
People who butcher sheep illegally, often try to sell it cheaply to local people.

There is a risk to human health from eating meat which has been butchered in unhygienic conditions and may be from animals which have had medical treatment which makes them unfit for human consumption.

Illegal butchery can also relate to organised crime and the criminals can have an operation with an outlet that will sell the meat.