NEWS
Guide to help curb rising stocktheft
R
ecent statistics give the
impression that stock
theft is decreasing.
However, according to the
Livestock Welfare Co-
ordinating Committee
(LWCC) this is not a true
reflection of the situation. In
reality theft is on the increase
but owners are not reporting
their losses.
For, gone are the days of petty
theft and syndicates are
now noticeably
affecting keepers of
livestock (the recent
upsurge in donkey
thefts and slaughter
for the Far East
donkey skin “trade”
is a case in point).
Part of the problem
is that some
livestock owners do
not identify their
animals legally,
which means it is
impossible for
them or the
police to do
anything more
about the crime.
The LWCC
acknowledges that as far as
the registration of livestock
brands and tattoos is con-
cerned, the methods of
branding need revision, with
further emphasis on an
animal welfare point of view.
It is also important that the
branding of animals is
conducted by trained
personnel.
In terms of prevention and
handling of stock theft, help
for the smallholder is at hand,
in the form of a free, down-
loadable manual, titled
Manual for the Prevention of
Stock Theft.
The manual was developed
by the National Stock Theft
Prevention Forum, in
collaboration with the Dept of
Agriculture.
The book gives detailed
information on animal
branding, the identification of
animals and all the regula-
5
www.sasmallholder.co.za
tions; the paperwork involved
in sale and resale of livestock;
what to do when stock theft
occurs, how the criminal
justice system works, along
with all the relevant legislation
and then, finally, advice on
the prevention of stock theft.
To download the book, go to
http://www.agriconnect.co.za/
manual-for-the-prevention-of-
stock-theft-3/ or go to
http://www.agriconnect.co.za/
handleiding-vir-
veediefstalvoorkoming-2/ for
the Afrikaans version.