Heartbroken owners appeal for help after $25,000 lamb goes missing

A rare and valuable lamb worth up to $25,000 has gone missing from a property in the Adelaide Hills, leaving its owners heartbroken and urging the community to be on the lookout.

The lamb, a Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep, was only born last week and was stolen from the property several days after its arrival. Madeleine Babos, a vet and hobby farm owner, recently started breeding the unique-looking animals after a decade-long interest.

Originating in the Swiss Alps, Valais blacknose sheep are known for their fluffy white coats, dark faces, spiral horns, and dog-like personalities. Ms Babos described the breed as having a "loving personality" and being like the "dogs of the sheep world".

"I noticed the mama sheep of the lamb was over there sniffing... pacing back and forth looking a bit frantic," Ms Babos said. "I realised our initial singleton was gone, which was quite stressful at the time just knowing that she'd been fine several hours before."

Ms Babos suspected that the disappearance, which occurred in the afternoon, was unlikely due to a predator. "Just given the time of the day... the way the mother is and the fact we had some other tiny vulnerable lambs there in the paddock, I was less worried about predation," she said. "Whether she was close to the fence, whether someone's just seen her and said, 'Oh that's really cute, I'll just take her home as a pet'."

Ms Babos and her partner, Alasdair Rodgers, invested in the costly breeding project in the hope of making a return in a few years. The couple's first purchase, the lost lamb's mother 'Sugar', cost $25,000. Mr Rodgers said the investment was crucial in helping them get back on their feet after he had to stop work for over a year to care for their middle daughter who had health complications.

"These sheep have kind of been a little bit of an investment for us to help us get back on our feet," Mr Rodgers said. "Disappointing to have something vanish that's the next stage in your life that you've been working towards."

Ms Babos said the police told her that livestock theft was common. "She does have some very distinct markings, she's a pure ewe lamb," the vet said. "Please reach out to us...reach out to police." Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers SA on 1800 333 000.