1,200 brebis et agneaux volés sur une ferme manitobaine

[Animal 0]

1,200 ewes, lambs snatched in second strike against farm

National Post,
Pg A13, Sept 9, 2005

WINNIPEG - For the second time in two years hundreds of sheep have gone
missing from the same farm. A theft of 1,200 sheep from a St. Claude farm on the
weekend is the largest case of livestock theft in Manitoban history, and
possibly Canadian history, at least according to various industry experts.
"Nothing this big has ever happened to us with cattle or sheep.... I've never
heard of one that big in Canada," said Rob Smith, general manager of the
Manitoba Sheep Association. Mr. Smith estimated there are 70,000 sheep in
Manitoba, so a one-time theft of 1,200 ewes and lambs is a staggering number.
Owners Patty and Norman Goulet note the double strike of bad luck on Backwoods
Sheep Ranch, which used to be the second-largest sheep farm in Manitoba, leaves
it without more than 60% of its stock. The sheep were stolen from a pen about a
kilometre away from the couple's farmhouse, and likely loaded on to transport
truck trailers, each of which can take about 400 sheep fit for shipping. "We
couldn't prove it or anything, because [the last time] they came through the
gates ... but this time, they actually cut fences and went in," said Patty
Norman yesterday, noting 110 sheep were stolen last winter.

Reporter: Gabrielle Giroday