Police are probing the tragic death of a calf and two adult cows found dead in Lochwinnoch.

Farmer John Brown made the horrifying discovery on Sunday morning, the day after he spotted a vehicle acting suspiciously in the early hours of Saturday, January 2.

It's understood the calf suffered tears or cuts to its throat and that the ground was badly churned around the lifeless animals.

A police spokesman said: "At 1pm on Sunday, the same farmer returned to the area and everything was ok. On returning at 3pm he observed that his two red luing cows and a red luing calf were now lying dead near the field entrance.

"The farmer stated that he had seen what he believed to be poachers in the area the day before.

"He also stated the calf had what appeared to be tears or cuts to its throat area, and that the ground was badly churned around the cattle, as though they had been running trying to protect the calf from something and they were also covered in mud.

"Evidence suggests the cattle have died as a result of stressed induced by poachers or dogs within the field."

We previously reported that Brown Muir farm had been targeted by cattle thieves three times last year.

A red luing heifer and two calves were stolen in June and another, said to be worth more than £2,500, was stolen between Saturday, August 1 at 6pm and 1.45am on August 2.

Farm owner Mr Brown told The Gazette of concerns that the rustlers would strike again.

At the time he said: “I’m totally gutted as I had a soft spot for the luings.

“Both are worth £2,500 each, so whoever stolen the cows must have known the value of them.

“My worst fear is that she was stolen for someone to eat.

“Two calves were stolen last spring, a white luing and a red luing, and I never got them back."

Police are currently carrying out door to door enquiries with neighbouring farmers to ascertain if they have observed any suspicious vehicles or persons around the time of the incident and to identify the Landrover seen the previous day.

If anyone has any information that may assist Police in this enquiry and /or who is responsible please contact Police Inspector Cassie Glass at Johnstone Police Office on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.