A SUBSTANTIAL reward has been offered by one of Ireland’s top cattle breeders for the return of a valuable heifer calf which went missing after the Virginia Show in Co Cavan.
The 10-month-old heifer is valued at over £10,000, and because its DNA is registered its owner, Ivan Robinson from Ballygowan, Co Down, said it was useless to anyone who has taken it.
Mr Robinson, who is one of the top Holstein Friesian breeders on the island, had been a finalist in the prestigious Bailey’s Irish Cow Competition, where the top dairy cows compete for major prizes.
“I had two cows for showing, and I brought the calf as well for a competition for calves, but it went missing from the marquee sometime between 7.30pm and 8pm that evening.
“I am appealing for its return because calves are like dreams and this one was going to be a wonderful animal, and I have her grandmother.
“I have never known an animal to be stolen from a show before, and I thought someone was playing a joke on me when I returned to the marquee and saw she was missing,” said Mr Robinson.
“I am very disappointed because this was a great calf and while she is worth a lot of money she cannot be registered either here in the North or in the Republic or in Great Britain.
“She is worth perhaps £500 or £600 as a commercial calf but as a registered animal with the pedigree she has, she is worth well in excess of £10,000.
“I wanted an appeal to go out to the local churches where people could be told the animal was gone and could be returned to the local priest or another farmer.
“She will stick out like a sore thumb if she turns up in an ordinary herd. In fact whoever has her will never be able to show her off because she is very special,” said Mr Robinson.
“What I would like to see happen is she would be returned to a local priest or community leader. Tie her up and leave her outside a church, but please give her back.”
He said he was offering a substantial award for her safe return and suggested the calf, which is a granddaughter of one of his champion cows, could be returned quietly to any of the breeders in the country.
A show committee spokesperson confirmed the animal had been reported missing, and gardaí in Virginia are investigating.