If your herd of cattle is part of your livelihood, making sure that your cows are not stolen is probably very important to you. Unfortunately, livestock theft can be more common than many people realize, and it can cost your operation thousands of dollars. Luckily, there are steps that you can take to help protect your business.
1. Check Your Fence Regularly
First of all, if your cattle is getting out of your fence, it can be a whole lot easier to steal your cows than if a person had to get them out themselves. Making sure that you check your fence regularly for issues and being quick about making repairs is important if you want to keep cattle safe and protect them from accidents and theft.
2. Count Heads Often
In some cases, farmers find themselves with so much cattle that they aren't even aware of the fact that they are being stolen from until much later. Keeping an inventory of the number of cows that you have and counting heads often can help you be aware of whether or not this is an issue. Then, you can take action before it's too late.
3. Mark Your Cattle
If your cows are marked in a certain manner to show that they are yours, they can be much less prone to theft than if they weren't. Branding, tattoos, and ear tags are all options that you can look into that can allow you to mark your cattle. Plus, you might find that marking your cattle is handy for bookkeeping purposes as well.
4. Keep Your Property Under Surveillance
If your property is dark and isn't being watched at nighttime, it can be prone to all types of thefts, including a theft of your livestock. Hanging up surveillance cameras and ensuring that your property is well-lit is a good way to make your property less appealing to someone who is looking to steal livestock.
5. Ensure Your Livestock is Insured
Did you know that many farm insurance companies actually offer insurance that can cover your livestock? This can help protect your farm in the event that your livestock is stolen, harmed during a major storm and more.
As you can see, there are a few ways that you can protect your farm from cattle theft. If this is something that has been happening to you, or if you just want to ensure that your operation is kept safe, following these five tips can help.
