No cow is safe tonight. With the price of beef skyrocketing cattle thieves are riding high. Cattle duffing has been around since the days of Captain Starlight but the crime is still under-reported.

More than 2000 head of cattle are reported stolen from farms in Queensland, Australia. Stock theft is estimated to cost producers about $2 million per year. As reported in www.brisbanetimes.com.au.

Some stock are stolen for re-sale - one truck of cattle can fetch $80,000 or more - but others are stolen for their stud line. Often times the theft occurs right next door. Sound like the Old West here in the USA? It sure does. A farmer steals their neighbor’s cow to breed from it and get as many calves out of it as they. They keep the calves for themselves, with no intention of ever returning the stolen animal.

Do you know what the penal code is for this type of theft? It is “unlawful use of a cow.” That is comical, right?

Branding Required

By law, cows must be branded to determine ownership, but brands can be altered and ear tags can be removed. People in the industry know how to get around branding, no different to how bank robbers get around security systems and alarms.

Stock thieves range from petty opportunists through to large professional organizations.

Two years ago, 860 head of prime bullocks worth $1 million were stolen from Strathmore Station in far north Queensland.

There is also the threat of midnight butchers - those who hunt cattle at night, butcher the beasts (taking the best cuts) and then sell the meat on the black market.

Perhaps it is because I do not live in a rural area that I do not hear more about cattle theft, but it is apparently a serious problem. Do you have any experience with this? If so, please share.