Police have launched an investigation after a sheep was 'professionally butchered and killed' in the middle of an Ayrshire field.
Cops have launched a probe into the distressing incident after the one-year-old farm animal was killed in a field in Stewarton some time between 8am on Saturday, February 6 and 1pm on Tuesday, February 9.
The young female sheep was a Texel weighing around 70kg and had a value of around £250.
Police Inspector Ian Harvey, of Kilmarnock police station, said: "We take these types of incidents very seriously and understand the impact this will have on the animals and the farmers.
"This a very distressing incident and I would appeal for anyone who has information or know who was responsible, to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting 1442 of February 10.”
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