Stock theft is on the rise, farmers warned

The estimated R1 billion in losses currently suffered by South African livestock industry as a result of stock theft, is expected to escalate as the incidences of stock theft increase in all provinces.

Stock theft is on the rise, farmers warned
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The estimated R1 billion in losses currently suffered by South African livestock industry as a result of stock theft, is expected to escalate as the incidences of stock theft increase in all provinces.

READ Top Sussex breeder’s extreme measures to beat stock theft

This was according to Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Producers Organisation, who said stock theft was particularly prevalent in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

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There was a marked increase in the theft of goats, in particular, Schutte said at a meeting of the National Stock Theft Forum earlier this month.

READ Stock theft threatens growth in SA’s goat value chain

Schutte called on all role players in the livestock value chain to be vigilant during the festive season.

The South African Police Service meanwhile identified 30 stock theft “hot spots” around the country. These were:

North West Ventersdorp/Mogwase
Mpumalanga Amersfoort/Dirkiesdorp
Gauteng Bronkhorstspruit/Fochville
Limpopo Lebowakgomo/Matlala/Dennilton
Free State Harrismith/Selosesha
KwaZulu-Natal Estcourt/Dannhauser/Bergville/Amangwe/Ntabamhlophe

Utrecht

Eastern Cape Sulenkama/Bityi/Mtahata/Maluti /Mount Frere/Qumbu
Western Cape Caledon/Beaufort West
Northern Cape Hanover/Groblershoop

 

The importance of branding livestock with a registered brand as proof of ownership was also stressed at the meeting.

The timeous and clear branding of animals had become an essential tool in the fight against stock thieves, according to Schutte.

He called on producers to ensure that their animals were properly branded, as it was extremely difficult to prove ownership of stolen animals that did not have registered brands complying with South African legislation, he said.

“It is also of the essence that producers act proactively by, for instance, changing the routine on farms to [make it more difficult for] prospective thieves. It is also vital that the animals are counted regularly,” he added.

In addition, Schutte said was important to adhere to that all legal requirements pertaining to the sale and transportation of livestock. He called on auctioneers, buyers, and the operators of feedlots and abattoirs to not accept livestock that were not accompanied by the relevant documentation.

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Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business. Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds. She’s an avid reader and owns a comprehensive collection of Africana covering hunting in colonial Africa, missionary history of same period, as well as Rhodesian literature.