A tougher law to curb cattle theft in Missouri will go into effect on Aug. 28. Gov. Jay Nixon signed House Bill 62 at the State Highway Patrol Headquarters Crimes Lab in Jefferson City on July 9.

Steve Willard, president of Missouri Cattlemen's Association, Willow Springs, believes the law is a big step for producers around the state. "It is great to see an issue so important to our members be just as important to our governor and legislators," he says. "This is a prime example of MCA membership impacting MCA policy."

The bill, also known as the Omnibus Crimes Bill, raises the penalty for cattle theft from a class C to a class B felony, which requires a sentence of five to 15 years in prison. It will also require the convicted persons to serve a minimum of 80% of their sentence.

Under this bill, veterinarians can open any record of the livestock inspected by the Department of Agriculture to determine the origin and destination of that animal.
 
Cattle theft has become a large problem in Missouri. Since 2004, more than 3,300 head of cattle have been stolen, along with numerous trucks, trailers and cattle equipment, worth an estimated value of $1.2 million.