The crooks struck overnight between June 19 and 20 by luring the two-year-old red heifer into the back of a car.

Farm owner, John Brown, said this is the second time Brown Muir farm has been targeted after thieves stole two calves last year.

The 39-year-old fears the rustlers will strike again and has appealed for any witnesses to come forward to help him trace his beloved cow.

He said: “I’m totally gutted as I have a soft spot for the lings.

“She’s worth £2,500 so whoever stole the cow must have known the value of her.

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

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

“This cow was also a really nice one and worth a lot of money.

“It’s shocking that someone would do this.” The missing cow, which has a white tag on it with the number 307, was last seen on June 19.

Mr Brown expressed fears that it was stolen to sell on or to be eaten.

He added: “She was here at 7.30pm the night before she was missing.

“I went round at 7.30am the next morning and I found the padlock on the gate was cut.

“The gate had been turned round and there had been a float reversed into the gate.

“My cow, she’s very docile, you could bring her out the field with a pile of cake.

“I’m very upset and my head is really bursting now trying to figure out where she’s went.

“I just hope she is returned safely. I want my beast back.” Inspector Cassie Glass, of Johnstone Community Police, has asked anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious to come forward, If you know anything about the missing cow, contact Police Scotland by phoning 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.