Page
Preventing Livestock Theft
Completion requirements
View
Livestock is one of the most common and valuable things stolen from farms.
Stock theft in South Africa currently costs the livestock industry approximately R500 million a year.
Yet well-informed prosecutors, policemen and farmers can use simple logic to secure criminal convictions and help reduce this theft.
“Every animal is unique and will have [some] permanent marks from being handled over the years. These can all be used for identification purposes to link stolen livestock to their owners’ herds.
Taking these factors into account and using research, DNA and circumstantial evidence, prosecutors can reconstruct a case successfully and secure a conviction.
To achieve this, however, they need some understanding of stock handling methods, as well as the correct usage of livestock farming terminology.
Many thieves do their best to change the appearance of livestock shortly after it has been stolen. Typically, they dehorn, remove ear tags, or smudge brand marks with a hot spade or other objects.
The prosecutor, therefore, has to link evidence to an animal whose appearance may have been changed, or to a farm that may be kilometres away from where animals or parts of animals have been found.
Being able to match wool, ear notches, branding, dehorning methods, castration and age to stolen livestock is crucial.
Click on the link below to download a manual for the prevention of livestock theft.