Cattle Theft Help

[cattleman25]

Hi -
I am trying to help out some family members who have recently experienced cattle thefts on their ranches. Both are located in the Southwestern US.

I know law enforcement is there to assist, but was curious if anyone else has heard of any other avenues? Like private security companies or investigators? Really want to come at this from all different directions to help them solve this issue.

Any help is much appreciated -

Thanks
Danny

[wr]

I would think it would be cost prohibitive to hire a private security company to mind a herd of cattle but I'm asssuming that since you mention ranches that we aren't talking about a few head in a small area.

Do they have any idea if the cattle are being shot and field dressed on site or is this a larger scale problem?

[FarmerDavid]

Dad has said that 35-40 years ago when we were having a problem they basically created a "neighborhood watch". One farmer would "patrol" the fields each night. Idk of anything like that going on now but lots of game cameras going up.

[MO_cows]

Do they belong to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association? www.tscra.org/

"The 29 commissioned peace officers who serve as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) special rangers investigate approximately 1,000 agricultural crime cases each year and recover an average of $5 million in stolen cattle and assets for ranchers each year."

[CJBegins]

There has been a lot of cattle theft here in Missouri. LE here think that the theives are mixing stolen cattle with other cattle and running them thru sale barns so they are more difficult to identify.

One of the ways these guys are stealing the cattle is they are baiting the cows with grain for a few days to come to the fences and then one day they back a trailer up to an open spot or to a gate and pour the grain down and herd the cows in.

A permanent form of ID is about the only way of proof of ownership after they have been taken. Those new fangled ear tags with the farm id's on them might help if they don't get cut out.

Prevention is going to be paramount. I do think groups of farmers banding together is what it is going to take. I also think it will require moving herds into lots close to your house at night until the theives are caught. It's a big hassle but at least you could hear them, maybe.

[Jena]

Just an FYI but there was this one guy who was stealing cattle in a refurbished travel trailer. he basically rebuilt the floor and walls in a travel trailer so it would hold the cows, then drove them to states that don't require brand inspection to sell them.

He finally got pulled over for something and he got caught.

[myersfarm]

trail cameras at gates and around were people pour out feed

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by MO_cows

Do they belong to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association? www.tscra.org/

"The 29 commissioned peace officers who serve as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) special rangers investigate approximately 1,000 agricultural crime cases each year and recover an average of $5 million in stolen cattle and assets for ranchers each year."

The local cattleman's association should help in figuring out what kind of theft is happening in your folk's region. They usually have a reward program for detecting thefts, finding out what's actually going on will tell you how to prevent loss. (I give less credence to "rustling" live animals for sale on the hoof than to converting animals immediately to beef on the hook that's sold through the back door to restaurants and small purveyers.)

Surrounding operations influence theft opportunities.

[francismilker]

A neighborhood watch patrol where a farmer/rancher sits out the night on top of a tall hill out in the SW areas is pretty effective. You can spot a lone vehicle driving section lines for miles away. I've also heard of farmers mounting cameras up high on cell phone towers that activate off of motion sensors and make a call when a vehicle enters a certain area and don't leave very quickly.