The National Farmers’ Union president has delivered a stark assessment following a police investigation into livestock theft at Jeremy Clarkson’s Oxfordshire agricultural business.
The Clarkson’s Farm broadcaster disclosed that eleven ovines had been taken from his Diddly Squat holding in Chadlington.
The 66-year-old television personality revealed that the depletion was identified during a flock audit conducted alongside his farm manager.
In comments directed at those responsible, Clarkson urged them to return the animals in remarks published by The Sun.
However, NFU president Tom Bradshaw suggested it was probable the animals had been processed for meat distribution.
Speaking about the impact on agricultural producers, Bradshaw noted that farming communities were experiencing financial and morale difficulties not witnessed for several decades.
Bradshaw informed Times Radio listeners that livestock theft inflicted particular distress because producers had invested considerable effort in raising animals, only to find themselves with nothing to commercialise.
He expressed the view that the missing sheep were almost certainly slaughtered and introduced into the food supply chain.
Clarkson described his interactions with law enforcement as productive, recalling that after reviewing seven hundred hours of logged communications, he was connected with a female officer.
Clarkson recounted explaining the theft, describing himself as sounding like someone from an earlier era, to which the officer responded by noting the breed as Easycares, indicating familiarity with the programme.
The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter emphasised the defensive capabilities of his agricultural enterprise and conveyed his frustration regarding the incident.
He indicated the ovines held a market value exceeding two thousand pounds, while also expressing concern that additional livestock in separate enclosures may have been subject to theft.