A PREGNANT cow has had to be put down as a result of severe facial injuries inflicted during a gun attack on a Highland farm.

Farmer Andrew Smith of Dunlichity Farm, found the wounded blue-grey in-calf heifer in woodland between two of his other farms, Duntelchaig and Bunachton, near Dores, the day after last week's big thunderstorms. Almost 50 of his herd had escaped into the local forestry to shelter from the noise.

“Its face was all swollen on one side and blood was coming out of its nose. It was struggling to breathe. We had to put it to the slaughterhouse to put it down," reported Mr Smith.

Police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident, which is believed to have occurred between July 20 and 7.30 am on July 22, but as yet there have been no arrests. One possibility is that poachers were in the forest shooting deer under the cover of the thunder, but as Mr Smith said to The Scottish Farmer, it was the police's job to investigate the crime, and his job to get on with farming.

“I’m not happy that people are wandering around with guns who don't know what they are doing. You shouldn't be pulling a trigger if you don't know what you are aiming at."

He stressed that sheep rustling was now 'rife' in parts of the Highlands and Islands, but doubted that the perpetrator or perpetrators of the attack on his heifer had done so with the intention of making a profit from the sale of its meat, as the animal was too heavy to easily remove from that location.

"Sheep rustling and cattle theft are still a hanging offence," he added, half-joking (although Sir Robert Peel's government actually removed livestock theft from the list of capital crimes in 1832).

Police in Inverness are keen to hear from anyone who may have information regarding this and can be contacted on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.