In Newton County, Ark., last week, Sheriff Keith Slapes told the Newton County Times that more than a dozen cattle disappeared overnight or when the owners were away.

In Texas, law enforcers recently identified a fourth suspect in a September cattle heist in Harrison County, and in March, cattle were reported stolen in Polk County, Missouri.

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"You may have thought cattle rustling was a thing of the past, a common theme in old western movies," says Tom Troxel, associate head of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, "but nothing could be further from the truth."

Recent reports in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas have beef producers on high alert

In a University news release, Troxel says rustlers can strike overnight by gathering a group of cattle, sometimes by using dogs, loading them into a trailer or truck and hauling them away to a livestock sale, all without being noticed.

"There's that terrible feeling a beef cattle producer gets when he or she checks on the cattle the next day and they are all gone," he said.

Protecting against rustlers
Troxel said there are ways to protect cattle against rustlers.

"As old fashioned and outdated a practice as it seems, branding is still one of the best ways to protect your animals," he said. "Even with all the technology today, branding is the best way to permanently identify cattle."

1. Visit your cattle every day and count heads. The earlier you know they're missing, the better chance authorities will have of finding them.

2. Avoid visiting your cattle the same time every day. Change your daily routine. Cattle rustlers will take note of your daily routine.

3. Take time to inspect the outside fence. Look for spots that were cut and haphazardly repaired. Look around for tire tracks, footprints, horse prints, etc., and if you find anything suspicious, preserve the evidence for authorities.

4. Report suspicious vehicles. If you see an unfamiliar truck being driven slowly, someone may be scouting your pasture. Report the incident to local law enforcement. Contact neighbors and let them know about the incident.

5. Know local law enforcement officers and their telephone numbers.

6. Keep calves away from easy road access. An all-weather road can be a friend to a cattle rustler. Cattle rustlers can't afford to get stuck in mud or waste time.

7. Chain and lock gates.

Cattle, unlike most other stolen property, can be sold for full value at weekly livestock auctions.

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"Often, a sale barn owner may recognize cattle brought to their barn as belonging to somebody else," Troxel said. "But the victim of cattle rustling can't always rely on the owner to report a heist. The rustler may take the stolen cattle to a livestock auction in another location or state."

Source: University of Arkansas