The Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) in Area II has issued a public warning urging residents in Rose End, St. Mary and nearby communities to avoid purchasing cow meat following the illegal slaughter of several cattle, including animals in late pregnancy.
Investigators report that a farmer had secured eleven cows on farmland in the area before retiring for the night. When a relative checked the property around 6:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, the animals were found missing. A subsequent search led to the discovery that two of the cows had been butchered on the property. One of the animals was confirmed to have been carrying a fully developed calf.
Police believe the killing occurred sometime between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. that morning.
A veterinarian who examined the scene informed officers that the affected cattle had recently been treated with chemical injections, making the meat unsafe for human consumption.
Authorities are advising members of the public to exercise caution and avoid buying beef being sold at suspiciously low prices, warning that contaminated meat poses serious health risks and could be fatal.
Anyone with information or in need of police assistance is being asked to contact 119 or Crime Stop at 311.

