There's no bull about this theft.

In a bizarre whodunnit, someone stole a tank containing $15,000 worth of bull semen from a rural property west of Winnipeg in March.

Having exhausted all avenues, RCMP are appealing for tips to solve the theft.

"It is a peculiar item to steal," said Const. Stephen Senuita, a spokesman for Portage la Prairie RCMP. "This is the first instance of this type of property being stolen that I can think of."

Police said the theft occurred in the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk, which surrounds MacGregor, on March 9. The victim told police tools and other items were taken, along with the artificial insemination tank.

"There's nothing to suggest they were looking specifically for (the tank)," Senuita said yesterday.

He said the suspect or suspects may or may not have known what the tank contained.

The heist is unusual, but semen and embryos are extremely valuable, according to people who work in the artificial insemination industry.

Semen from a prized bull has sold for $150 per vial while others sell for $30, said Bob Wotton, an artificial insemination technician and distributor based in McGregor, about 120 km west of Winnipeg.

Wotton said $15,000 worth "would be a lot of semen."

Bull semen is frozen in nitrogen-filled tanks until it is injected into a cow.

Wotton said the semen and tank would likely be difficult to re-sell because scrupulous buyers would be suspicious.

Breeders document samples, tend to know each other and farmers, and require specialized handling equipment and knowledge, according to people in the industry.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Portage RCMP at 1-204-857-4445 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

chris.kitching@sunmedia.ca