PRINEVILLE, OR — Ranchers in Oregon are warned to be extra vigilant this summer. The Department of Agriculture’s Rodger Huffman said the concern comes due to near record high beef prices.
“We anticipate there will potentially be more animals that are unaccounted for when people gather this fall, partially due to theft and also we’re anticipating that there could be some butcherings out in the range lands.”
Huffman, who manages the ODA’s Animal Identification Program, says a spike in food costs can sometimes lead those in need to shoot livestock and butcher the animals on the range for their own consumption. But for the traditional cattle rustler, the attraction of high prices for stolen animals has led to a more sophisticated crime.
“The transport is certainly easier and faster with the modern vehicles, but more importantly, the ability to market those animals through the internet; craigslist and such things like that is the thing that makes us quite nervous.”
Huffman says buyers need to have proof of ownership from the seller before completing the transaction and a bill of sale that includes name, address, and phone number.
For ranchers, marking their livestock with a brand or other recognizable identification is important, especially in recovering missing animals. Also, physically checking on livestock frequently is a good deterrent as thieves are more likely to grab cattle if they think nobody is looking.
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