This was a surprise to me, but I do not live in cattle country. Cattle rustling to fund drug habit.

http://news.nationalgeographic...e_editors_picks=true

Cattle Rustling is still a big deal in Southern Ohio where my family lives, along with out in WY where I was working for BIA.

Rustling has been a problem since people have had cattle. Get a rope!

Before I became a District Ranger with the Forest Service, I was a range specialist. We had a couple incidents of suspected rustling on the district. It was a big enough deal that the county sheriffs from both counties on the district and the Executive Director of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association came over for our annual permittee meeting.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a big organization in Texas and Oklahoma that among other things investigates rustling.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus Dei:
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a big organization in Texas and Oklahoma that among other things investigates rustling.

Cattle rustling still happens around here. Some friends had a registered angus "pathfinder" cow stolen & sold for slaughter. W/o going into great detail, a Pathfinder cow is worth LOTS more than a slaughter cow. Texas Rangers get involved in cattle rustling investigations. IIRC there are a couple Special Rangers tasked to the TSWCRA.

Branding has come back in vogue around here because of theft. You can buy a lot of meth for what a 500 lb calf will bring @ market.

There are more than a few news reports about the thefts of bulls' reproductive fluid. Humorous headline but a very real loss to the farmer/rancher.... $50,000 $75,000 $110,000.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wo...stealing-bull-semen/

Here is an Angus Pathfinder for sale

http://www.universalsemensales.../s-v-pathfinder-3134

One bull sold for $115,000.

https://www.angus.org/AngusPro...U5dwVoL18j9OafTcE%3d