Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 10//26/11

A rash of hog, cattle and sheep thefts is prompting national and regional associations to provide assistance to producers seeking to thwart thieves that are trying to steal their animals.

Since the summer, nearly 1,000 hogs and an estimated 100 head of cattle have disappeared from farms, feedlots and ranches, costing producers several hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to industry and police estimates.

The incidents occurred at facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, and authorities last week apprehended one suspect accused of pig thefts in Mitchell County, Iowa. Additional arrests are anticipated.

In response to what authorities are calling a sign of the economic times, the National Pork Council is offering security tips on its website http://www.pork.org/News/1287/theftsfarmsecurity.aspx
that include a list of similarities in two incidents in Minnesota as well as suggestions to protect hog farmers and their animals. The group stresses that having accurate and up-to-date animal counts is a critical step in making sure no livestock is missing and any theft can be detected quickly so that perpetrators can be arrested before they sell the livestock.

Meanwhile, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) has enlisted 30 special rangers across Oklahoma and Texas to investigate the disappearance of at least 60 head of cattle stolen in three Oklahoma counties. One individual has been charged with allegedly stealing 18 head of cattle in one incident. The organization – founded in 1877 specifically to fight cattle theft in the region – reports that about 4,500 head have been reported stolen or missing this year, adding that the investigation into the incidents is continuing.

Carmen Fenton, a TSCRA spokeswoman, said that the thieves are most likely people who understand the cattle business, including knowing where to take them for a quick sale. It’s believed that the suspects are taking advantage of the fact that many ranchers don’t maintain accurate head counts, compromising opportunities to collect evidence and providing a wider window of time for thieves to sell the stolen cattle at auction out of state.

The TSCRA is also following the prosecution of five men that its investigators arrested in August in connection with the alleged theft of 6,000 lambs worth an estimated $1 million. The thefts from a feedlot in Gillespie County, Texas, occurred over several months in 2010, but were reported by the owner in January 2011. None of those animals have been recovered, according to news reports. 

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