by Beth Williams

Farmers Hilary and Peter Joules are baffled over the mysterious disappearance of 30 calves in what has been described as a case of modern-day cattle rustling.

The couple, who together with son Rob run a large dairy and beef operation at Hope Farm, Bulltown, and Bircholt Farm, Brabourne, believe the cows were taken over several months.

Mrs Joules had suspected animals missing from their 2,000-strong herd, but it was not until a recent routine whole-herd TB test was carried out that the scale of the problem emerged.

"The calves are kept in batches of 50 to 100 animals," she said. "And although I noticed the odd calf missing, I put it down to an animal dying or being moved somewhere else and someone forgetting to tell me

"You get to know some of the animals better than others and I remember there was a Belgian Blue that was extremely friendly and that disappeared.

"It wasn’t until we came to do the whole-herd count that we realised we had paperwork for about 30 animals, which were missing and my suspicions were confirmed and we decided to report it."

Mrs Joules said she believes the calves - many of them only a few days old - were taken one at a time from various locations, both inside barns and outside, on the several-hundred acre farm.

But she is mystified as to the purpose of the thefts as the animals cannot be sold on or sent to slaughter without the 'passport' paperwork, which matches their ear tags and is required whenever cows are moved or sold – and all were far too small to be immediately butchered for meat.

"sheep have been slaughtered and butchered in the field for meat, but these animals were far too small – there wouldn’t have been anything on them…” – hilary joules

"I have heard of cases on Romney Marsh where sheep have been slaughtered and butchered in the field for meat, but these animals were far too small – there wouldn’t have been anything on them," she said. "They would have had to be grown a fair bit to be of value for meat."

It is thought the majority of the animals were removed over the winter and spring during the main calving seasons. In addition to the two farms at Bircholt and Hope, the Jouleses also have land at Park Farm.

"We are spread out over three sites," said Mrs Joules. "And because of the nature of farming we work day and night, so people might not have suspected anything if they saw strange vehicles."

The calves were mainly Friesians worth about £120 each, but some were Limousins which would normally be sold for upwards of £250.

Graham Kingston, community warden for Brabourne and Smeeth, described the thefts as "modern-day cattle rustling".

He asked people in the area to be vigilant and to report any meat being offered for sale in unusual circumstances by contacting him on 07813 712805.