Two tanks of bull semen have been stolen from a Northern Ireland farm, triggering a police hunt for the missing sperm and the culprits.
The pair of cryogenic storage tanks containing a "large quantity" of the semen were stolen from the County Tyrone farm at some point between 3 p.m. local time on October 21 and 1 p.m. October 23.
The exact value of the stolen semen has not been confirmed, but it has "significant value," according to local police. The empty tanks alone are thought to be worth around $2,400.
"It was reported to police that the two tanks, which contained a large quantity of cattle semen, were stolen after entry was gained to an outbuilding in the area," the Mid Ulster Police said on Facebook. "The stolen tanks and contents were of significant value, and at this time, our enquiries are ongoing as we work to establish the circumstances surrounding this theft."
Depending on the breed and the genetic quality of the bull, this semen can be worth enormous amounts of money, leading to its nickname "white gold." When a batch of 3,500 units of bull semen was stolen in California in 2016, the haul was estimated to be worth around $50,000. Some of the most valuable bull semen sells for around $600 per "semen straw," according to the BBC.
"Bull semen can be phenomenally expensive depending on which bull it has come from," Peter Gittins, a lecturer in farm management at the U.K.'s University of Leeds, told Newsweek. "Some of these prize animals used for AI sell for ludicrous prices. If it has high genetic value and is from a selected breeding program, that is probably why it is expensive."
The semen is stored in plastic straws and kept in cryogenic tanks to freeze and preserve the sperm until it is used to artificially inseminate a female cow. Each tank can hold 200 to 300 of these straws. The semen has to be stored at roughly -320 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the sperm cells from degrading, so it is housed inside special tanks that supercool the samples using liquid nitrogen. The semen is then thawed before being used to inseminate the cow.
This liquid nitrogen makes the theft even more strange, as it is dangerous to handle without proper knowledge, and spilling the contents could cause major injuries to the thieves.
"You don't mess around with liquid nitrogen," one local farmer told the BBC.
If the semen straws are touched without the correct equipment, the heat of a person's hands may kill many of the sperm cells, reducing the value of the haul immensely.
"I am unsure" if they will be able to resell the semen, Gittins said. "Depends on the reason for wanting it in the first place. Could be for personal use on an unregistered herd, my guess. Or they may be able to fabricate records."
Newsweek has reached out by email to the Mid Ulster Police regarding the theft and how much the haul might be worth.
The police urge anyone with information about the theft to come forward and also warn other local farmers to watch out for similar thefts in the coming months.
In their Facebook statement, the Mid Ulster Police said they "encourage anyone who may have this type of equipment, or who works in this industry, to be vigilant against this type of crime, particularly over the darker winter nights. Please review the security you have around your property and ensure any cameras are placed at entry points, where access might be gained."
Those who may have any information, including dashcam, CCTV or other footage, are asked to contact the police.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Jess Thomson is a Newsweek Science Reporter based in London UK. Her focus is reporting on science, technology and healthcare. ... Read more
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