00:01This newborn Swiss valet, black-nosed ewe, was the pride of both its owners and surrogate mother.
00:08But on Tuesday, she disappeared from her paddock during the day.
00:12I am really worried that someone's just seen her and said,
00:14oh that's really cute, I'll take her home as a pet.
00:16Madeleine Baybos, a vet, doesn't believe it was taken by a predator.
00:20She says there were no signs of foxes and there were more vulnerable lambs in the paddock.
00:25But it is a possibility.
00:26I have at night time lost chickens in the past.
00:30I've never had any issues with the other less fancy lambs.
00:33This little flock is the family's plan to get life back on track.
00:37Something that was going to be mostly for joy and maybe have just a small income off our hobby farm
00:43is actually turning into the thing that will likely save us.
00:46Their middle daughter, born with a genetic condition, spent her first 13 months in hospital.
00:51Caring duties meant dad, Alistair, couldn't work for two years.
00:56And three years ago they invested $25,000 to bring a Swiss valet ewe to Australia and start their stud.
01:04Since then they've been running an embryo program and plan to sell their first lambs this year,
01:10including the missing one.
01:12Disappointing to have something vanish that is the next stage in your life that you've been working towards for a
01:19really long time.
01:20And she was a sweet little girl. We only got to know her for a couple of days.
01:23In Switzerland, the valet blacknose are bred for their meat and wool.
01:27In Australia, their unique markings and affectionate personalities are making them popular but expensive pets.
01:35If she came back at this stage, I would be keeping her because I'm like,
01:38nah, you've been through too much darling, you were staying right here, now you're a pet.
01:45You're a pet.
01:47You're a pet.
01:47You're a pet.
01:48You're a pet.
01:48You're a pet.
01:49I'm so scared.
01:51You're a pet.
