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TURLOCK, Calif. — Officials say thieves in Turlock, Calif., stole several tanks filled with thousands of dollars worth of bull semen out of a truck Sunday night.

According to CBS13, the semen, which was selected because of its genetic value, was worth nearly $50,000.

“The genetics that these bulls have in them is out of the top 1 percent of the world population,” farm owner, John Azevedo, told CBS13.

The bulls’ semen is collected a few times a week and is then shipped all over the world to be used for impregnating cattle.

“Over 70 to 75 percent of all cattle in the U.S. is inseminated artificially,” Azevedo said.

Officials said three tanks and a transfer tank filled with nearly 3,500 units of sperm were taken from the truck. The semen is stored in tanks filled with liquid nitrogen to keep the sperm frozen.

Anthony Reis, who spent months collecting the semen said the thieves probably had no idea what they were stealing.

Reis said the thieves also stole gas out of his truck.

“To have someone just come and take your livelihood is very frustrating,” he told CBS13.

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