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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Pregnant Wagyu cows and calves worth $200,000 stolen from station

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Approximately 142 Wagyu cross cattle, valued at over $200,000, were stolen from Greenlake Station in central Queensland, Australia.
  • The stolen herd included pregnant cows and young female heifers, taken over a two-month period between April and May.
  • Police are investigating the theft, urging anyone with information about unusual stock movements in the area to come forward.

A significant cattle theft has occurred in central Queensland, Australia, with 142 Wagyu cross cattle, valued at more than $200,000, stolen from Greenlake Station. Station manager Madeline Price discovered the missing herd during the second round of weaning, realizing that a substantial number of cattle had vanished between April 3 and May 28.

It does make you feel pretty sick to ring your dad who's given you this amazing opportunity and tell him you're down 142 head of cattle.

— Madeline PriceDescribing her emotional reaction to discovering the theft.

The stolen group comprised 97 cows and 45 weaner heifers, with several of the cows being pregnant and close to giving birth. Ms. Price expressed her distress, noting the difficulty of reporting such a large loss to the company's owner and the personal toll it has taken. The sheer size of the property and the herd made the theft difficult to detect initially.

This incident occurs amid a strong cattle market, where prices for cows and weaner heifers can reach up to $2,000 per head. Stock squad detectives are actively investigating the theft and are appealing to the public for any information regarding unusual stock movements in the Todds Road and Rossmoya Road areas of Greenlake during April or May. The stolen cattle were branded with a "GL" under a half-circle symbol, had yellow management tags labeled "Greenlake," and were fitted with NLIS devices.

It's like throwing 1000 grains of rice on your kitchen floor and saying which [group] has 900, which one has 1000?

— Madeline PriceExplaining how the vastness of the property made the theft difficult to notice initially.

AgForce Queensland, a peak producer body, has also urged anyone with information to contact the police. They highlighted that stock theft is often difficult to detect and prosecute, and producers report it to be more widespread than official figures suggest. Beyond the financial loss, such thefts significantly impact producers' well-being and their sense of security on their properties.

Stock theft can be difficult to detect and prosecute, and producers tell us it is more widespread than reported figures suggest.

— AgForce QueenslandIn a statement urging anyone with information to contact police.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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