Twelve pregnant ewes have been run down in the paddock of a South Canterbury farm in an attack described as sickening.
Angus and Kim Lyon discovered the grisly scene at their Waitohi farm, near Temuka, on Monday.
Nine of the sheep were dead and three still alive, Kim Lyon says. She believes something had been poured on one of the ewes and an attempt made to to set the animal alight.
Ms Lyon says a couple of the ewes were carrying triplets and were quite large, weren't able to get to their feet and were run over.
She says the true cost of the sickening act won't be known until lambing time, and it is possible other ewes in the paddock will also lose their lambs due to the stress of the attack.
Sergeant Graham Sharp, of Temuka, believes a four-wheel-drive vehicle was involved in what he is calling a bizarre incident.
Mr Sharp says police would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Waitohi area Sunday night or early on Monday.
