Baylham farms animal safety concerns after sheep shooting

Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm posted on social media on Monday to inform visitors that an eight-year-old ewe had been shot over the weekend.

Kate Ockleton, the farm manager, said the site will remain open (Image: Kate Ockleton) The animal is now recovering and the farm will remain open, but staff have been left shocked by the incident.

Kate Ockleton, farm manager, said: "The staff are in pure shock, we all are.

"Our safety and visitor safety is our top priority, so we did what we could to get the sheep treated with painkillers and antibiotics and cancelled our animal encounters."

The ewe suffered wounds to her front leg, but is still standing (Image: Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm) The sheep are still nervous and are being looked after.

Police later added that they believe the sheep was shot with a rifle.

Ms Ockleton added: "It's horrible, you worry you'll turn up to work and more animals are injured or dead.

"It's very difficult, livestock and farms are so vulnerable."

The sheep graze next to a public footpath, Ms Ockleton said it is difficult to police the path as it is vulnerable to the public.

Investigations into the shooting continue as the sheep has entered back into the pen with the others.

Farm staff have been shocked by the incident (Image: Lucy Taylor)

A spokesperson for Suffolk police said: "An investigation has been launched by Suffolk police’s Rural Crime Team after a sheep was injured in a morning shooting by an unknown suspect on Sunday, September 29.

"Anyone with information should contact us using crime reference 37/55631/24."

The farm, near Needham Market and Great Blakenham, had to close earlier in the year after the possibility of an E.coli outbreak, following four visitors becoming ill after contact with animals.

READ MORE: Dobbies in Suffolk to stay open despite national closures

The UK Health Security Agency investigated the matter in April.

The ewe is making a recovery and is still standing after her injuries (Image: Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm) The farm said it worked with public health and local authorities to implement extra control measures but the site was forced to close for several weeks.