The Gisborne East Coast region is in the grip of a rustling epidemic.

The remains of nearly two dozen slaughtered sheep have been found twice in the last five days in and around the city.

In some cases, in-lamb ewes have been killed.

Police say it is definitely an organised criminal activity linked to the recession and a lot of it is going unreported.

Detectives say there has to be a market for the meat and they are appealing to the public to report any cases of cheap meat being sold.

------

The country's tastiest bacons have been revealed in the New Zealand Bacon Competition.

Peter Timbs Meats based in Christchurch, took the top prize for Bacon of the Year.

The company also took home the streaky bacon gold medal with its honey cured streaky bacon.

Spokesman Chris Timbs says he cures and smokes the meat over the period of a week using a special recipe that has been in the family since 1876.

He makes minor adjustments occasionally to make sure he gets the perfect taste, texture and versatility.

Bulls Butchery in the Manawatu won a silver medal.

Richard Spellman processes the butchery's pork products, and puts their success down to a couple of simple factors, including the good old fashioned way of slowly smoking it.

Twenty four judges had the task of finding the best tasting bacon. The were led by restaurateur, Steve Logan.

The judges agreed that the competition this year was fierce.