CCA concerned about hike in thefts

By Larry Dreiling

The declining U.S. economy has a returning villain as old as the American West--the cattle thief.

Cattlemen say they've seen an uptick in the number of missing cattle this fall, and not just the lack of one or two head in a pasture.

"I'm talking numbers like 70, 80, 100 head at one time," said one livestock leader who asked that his name not be disclosed. "I'm talking somebody loading a semi-load or maybe even two or three at a time and hauling them away somewhere. This is a really big problem. Somebody somewhere must be hard up for cash to do something like this."

One state is out to try to put the hammer down on cattle theft through more aggressive enforcement of brand laws and stepped up inspections.

To do that, Colorado officials are seeking the help of cattlemen statewide.

The recent Colorado Cattlemen's Association meeting at Colorado Springs placed a big emphasis on educating attendees on the issue of cattle theft.

CCA president-elect Tim Canterbury told members that a coordinated effort between his group and the Colorado Brand Inspection Board, already in place to stop cattle thefts, will see a new emphasis.

"The number of cattle thefts is changing significantly enough this fall that we really need to do something about it," Canterbury said. "We as producers have to be the ones to do this. We have to notify the inspector when there's a problem.

"The scope of the problem is significant enough that I'm telling you about it. If it were your cattle that were missing, it wouldn't take too many of them to be significant."

Improved website

The biggest increase in emphasis will be on use of the CCA website. It will soon allow producers, whether they are CCA members or not, to list missing cattle. The site administrator will automatically link into the inspection board's system to coordinate an effort to seek and find those missing cattle.

Canterbury, a Howard, Colo., producer, was joined by Rick Wahlert, director of the Colorado Brand Inspection Board, in announcing the new reporting system.

"By Jan. 1, we hope to have our new website up. We think it will be very user friendly. You can click on and list your cattle," Canterbury said. "It will automatically get information to Rick and from Rick to us."

This is a change in the way both entities have done business on stopping cattle theft. Canterbury credits Wahlert's office for its diligence in getting the word out on the new program.

"Don't feel bad about (missing) a few cattle. If we don't know about it, and the brand board doesn't know about it, then we can't help you get them back," Canterbury said. "The local inspector will notify Rick, who'll notify us, the people in the neighboring states and all the livestock barns that are close by.

"I've had calls this fall from people who say they've lost cattle. I ask them: 'Did you notify the brand inspector?' Those are the first words out of my mouth to them. These people almost always say no. I then tell them they've got to notify the brand inspector. I can't help, if Rick doesn't know."

Tell the inspector

Still, the first step in reporting cattle theft in Colorado is for producers to notify their local brand inspector.

"I can't stress that enough," Canterbury said. "You need to notify your local brand inspector. He should relay the information to us and we can help you."

Wahlert added: "When you're through counting your cattle and you find you're missing some, let us know as soon as you can. Of course, if you find them three days later, you should notify us then, too.

"Call your local inspector and have him list your cattle on a 'Missing and Stolen" report form. The inspector will then send the report up to my office. If you are close enough to the state line, I'll send the information out to states that surround us, in a heartbeat.

"I am the secretary of the International Livestock Identification Association. I have an e-mail that goes out to 18 different states. So far this season, I've received 30 different reports and I've kicked out one of my own of cattle I think may have been stolen."

Reluctance to admit loss

Both men admitted that cattle producers often are reluctant to report missing cattle because there may be a stigma to such a loss, but they said a little embarrassment is less costly than the loss of cattle.

"E-mail is a wonderful thing. I can get the information out at a moment's notice. Go ahead and list them, because it's easy to call back and say you've found them out in your pasture," Wahlert said.

Canterbury added: "I know it may be embarrassing that your neighbors will know you've lost your cattle. If we find them, we can take it off the website just as fast as we put the report on.

"Crap, gentlemen, we all misplace some cattle once in a while. I'll promise you, I've lost cattle in the last year, but I knew Rick had to know immediately if something happened. The sooner I reported it, the sooner those cattle would start turning up.

"They have a strange way of finding their way back home. But if you don't immediately notify your local brand inspector, then if those cattle are in some other location, we can't help you then."

Wahlert continued his plea for producers to notify his office about missing cattle.

"It will really help if you call. If one person is missing cattle, that's bad. But if two or three people in an area are missing cattle, then we have a pattern and we can get the word out," Wahlert said. "If you truly believe those cattle were stolen, of course, be sure and call the sheriff's office, too."

Reporting confusion

The influx of newcomers to Colorado's cattle country is also creating confusion in how cattle thefts are being reported, so he told the gathering that they should help those new neighbors in learning what to do if they see something suspicious.

"In a lot of cases, people will call the sheriff's office but, sometimes, the sheriff's office won't call us. You may have four good neighbors around you, one may be new to you and doesn't understand the process. Most people will call the sheriff's office, especially people from back East. I found that out with abandoned horses.

"A lot of people from that part of the country don't know what a brand inspector is. Sometimes people are afraid to call a brand inspector because they don't like talking to law enforcement. Once they do, they realize this is easy. This is the reason the program is in place."

A great deal more education is needed, Canterbury said, to assist in the effort of reducing cattle thefts. CCA's "Operation Cattle Theft" program has been in place for several years, offering a $1,000 reward to persons who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of cattle thieves and, Canterbury said, CCA needs to let more people know their information is valuable.

"We'll be working to make sure word gets out there," Canterbury said. "This will really help spot if we do have a problem with theft."

Larry Dreiling can be reached by phone at 785-628-1117 or by e-mail at ldreiling@aol.com.

12/15/08
3 Star CO\14-B

Date: 12/10/08

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