Police: $70K In Bull Semen Stolen From Minnesota Farm

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Mower County Sheriff's office is investigating a major theft from a southern Minnesota farm.

Police say someone stole vials of bull semen from a dairy farm in Leroy worth about $70,000.

Many embryos were also taken from the unlocked barn.

The Mower County Sheriff said these kinds of products can bring in a lot of money.

"There is a market for this, a lot of people bid on it or purchase it instead of transporting their animals to and from site," Mower County Chief Deputy Mark May said. "They can purchase this vial of bull semen and inseminate their cow, and I guess it's just a more reliable way to do it."

Bull semen is usually sold to breeders in .25 mL straws. Assuming a cost of $10 per straw, $70,000 of bull semen would be enough to fill a little less than four pint glasses.

The farmer believes the theft took place on Easter Sunday, when no one was at the farm.