Stock Growers Concerned Over Cattle Rustling

The issue of cattle rustling has producers thinking about prevention.

Leader RCMP are investigating a case where 21 calves were taken from a property in the Prelate area back in November.

General Manager of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Chad MacPherson says on average there are about 30 to 40 cases of theft or missing cattle per year in the Province.

“The number has been pretty consistent for the last few years but the size of some of the cases is increasing due to different changes in technology with people using quads and portable corrals.”

He says it’s a frustrating situation for producers noting they try a number of measures to prevent loss.

“With farming operations getting bigger and less people being in rural areas just watching out for suspicious activity and reporting any suspicious activity to the RCMP. Of course, brand your cattle that’s kind of the return address for them. When people are doing custom grazing do your due diligence go and check on the cattle occasionally and make sure the fences are maintained.”

In the cattle rustling case at Prelate, the calves which are valued at about $30,000 were tagged and branded with the letters “HE” on the right rib.

If anyone has any information on the case they should contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.