Meat scare from stolen Tasmanian cattle

Cattle stolen from a north Tasmanian property has sparked a warning from authorities who say the animals' high lead content make them unsuitable to eat.

Taken some time after February 16 from a leased property on Lovetts Flat Road at Sassafras, the two animals are likely to have been killed before being removed, police said in a statement issued on Friday.

"Advice from the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment is that people should not consume the meat due to the high lead content. In addition, the way the cattle was slaughtered poses a potential health risk," the statement said.