WITH record prices for cattle over recent months it comes as little surprise thieves have been active in rural areas.
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Cattle duffing is not new but it is a crime that often goes unreported and sometimes unnoticed until cattle are yarded and head counts done.
It is especially hard to detect if just a few head are taken but most observant farmers will notice a sudden drop in their herd numbers.
On a big scale, well organised thieves can cut a fence, pull a stock truck into an isolated paddock and, relatively quietly, load up dozens or hundreds of head of stock and be hundreds of kilometres away hours later.
Stolen stock may be re-branded, or slaughtered and sold, or used to re-stock so their calves or lambs can be sold.
High prices, and high demand makes this a big concern.
When you consider weaner cattle sold at Barnawartha for $1000 and more last week, a truck carrying 50 or more stolen cattle is a considerable haul.
As Wangaratta VFF president, and beef producer, Greg Mirabella says, it is an unfortunate thing that thieves often target people they know, most likely neighbours, and it is another kick for an already struggling sector.
It is important farmers report stolen stock, ideally as soon as possible, without disturbing the area they were.
Police say livestock theft is the most significant rural crime and assure formers they will investigate.
Senior Constable Travis Carroll says technology, and resources, make investigating these matters easier.
Police can call on things such as DNA testing to identify stolen livestock.
So even if sheep or cattle are re-branded or have ear tags changed, there is still a good chance perpetrators will be caught.
A University of New England publication offers several tips on preventing stock theft.
Farmers are urged to regularly check their stock, paddocks and fence lines containing them.
All gates should be locked and even by leaving fresh tyre tracks around property boundaries may help deter would-be thieves.
Other suggestions include an alarm system linked to a fence, which can alert a farmer if a fence wire is cut or broken.
Of course, livestock identification is vital, to prove ownership and make it easier to get stock returned.