Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER

Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER
HomeTop StoriesFarmer awakes to find flock “torn apart”

Farmer awakes to find flock “torn apart”

A Tenterfield garlic farmer said he was devastated to discover 14 of his 34 sheep torn apart by local dogs on Tuesday morning, at his Wallangarra property.

Dick Rochford lives in Tenterfield and operates a 10 acre property on the NSW/QLD boarder.

He said he was checking on his flock, located on a smaller three acre patch, during the early hours of Tuesday morning when he discovered the horrific scene.

“Many of the sheep had been torn to pieces and were dead when I arrived, it was shocking,” he said.

“I actually saw the two dogs and they darted off.”

Mr Rochford followed the dogs, believed to be an Alsatian and a Cattle Dog, which he said had separate owners several blocks away.

“Both owners were very reasonable and have agreed the dogs may need to be put down,” Mr Rochford said.

Mr Rochford said he was also in discussions with the dog’s owners over possible compensation.

“I was about to go to market with 12 of the sheep today (Tuesday, March 12),” he said.

It was estimated the sheep and lambs could have fetched around $3000.

Two sheep were also found floating in a dam, where they drowned attempting to escape the dogs.

“I also have four lambs which are now orphans and several more sheep may need putting down as they are carrying deep flesh wounds,” he said.

Mr Rochford said he would file a police report to ensure the event was properly recorded, but was satisfied with the response from his neighbours.

Digital Edition
Subscribe

Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription

Wet weather trims yardings but boosts prices

The showers that fell during the weekend and the opening days of the week had a twofold effect as they slowed numbers available for...

Gamble pays off

More News

Bleak outlook for economy if Iran conflict drags on

Lingering conflict in the Middle East could cause Australia's economy to contract and unemployment to spike to pre-pandemic levels, Treasury warns in the nation's...

Gamble pays off

Dealer: S Vul: E/W NORTH ♠ 5 ♥ 94 ♦ KJ1097432 ♣ 93 WEST EAST ♠ 10432 ♠ K986 ♥ Q8762 ♥ J103 ♦ 5 ♦ A6 ♣ J82 ♣ Q1065 SOUTH ♠ AQJ7 ♥ AK3 ♦ Q8 ♣...

Elderly woman dies 11 days after Glen Aplin fatal

A fatal crash south of Stanthorpe earlier this month has now claimed a second life after an 85-year-old Wallangarra woman succumbed to her injuries...

Turf club eyes big turnout for Warwick Picnic Races

The Warwick Automotive Group Picnic Races will return to Picklebet Allman Park Warwick on Saturday, 13 June 2026, bringing with it one of the...

Native vegetation struggling to survive on dry Granite Belt

Native vegetation and wildlife are coming under increasing pressure on the Granite Belt where dry conditions are killing even young trees and pushing rare...

Club championships to be decided

Brad Silver and Trish Fittock have put them in good positions in the Stanthorpe Club Championships with wins on day two of the action. A...

Morgan Park on world stage

From Morgan Park to the world, round four of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championships will be beamed from the Southern Downs into loungerooms...

Architectural honour for new $21m Warwick police station

Architects behind the $21 million redesign of the Warwick police station have earned formal praise from Australia's national architecture institute. Nearly a year after construction...

Battle of the Bands returns to kick off 49th Border District Eisteddfod

Battle of the Bands is back for 2026 to kick off the Border District Eisteddfod, giving local musicians, actors and dancers a platform to...

Stanthorpe nurse recognised for exceptional care at regional awards

Stanthorpe Hospital nurse Laura Brown has been awarded Darling Downs Health Graduate Nurse of the Year as part of International Nurses Day. Ms Brown...