Missing calves suspected stolen

Cattle rustling is still a concern in the Nebraska panhandle. On Saturday, Oct. 21, Nebraska Brand Commission Investigator Tom Houston received a report that 25 black angus calves were missing from one of two Southern Kimball County pastures owned by Geraldine and Larry Highland.

"We pre-stressed them two weeks before. They were turned back out for two (weeks), then we were delivering them to the people that bought them," Geraldine said. "When the ranchers gathered the cattle, they were all accounted for. When they were delivered, exactly 25 calves were missing."

While they were concerned, the couple did not immediately suspect that the calves had been stolen, but decided to check the fence surrounding their pasture.

The Highland's report that the three-year-old fence surrounding the pasture, which has a barn, corrals and loading chutes, was undamaged.

"If the calves had been out, the cows would have been by the fence where they were," she said.

It then became clear to them that some scoundrel stole the calves, which were in the weaning stage.

They added that the thief had to separate the calves from their mothers before they could be loaded on a trailer and taken. The calves, steers and heifers alike, weighed between 400 and 600 pounds and were ready to go to a buyer when the theft was discovered.

Neither Houston nor the Kimball County Sheriff's Office received a call stating that they had been stolen, but instead read it on a Facebook post.

"It's a difficult investigation to do, especially when the information is received as late as I received it," Houston said. "I've talked with neighbors and followed protocol, and a missing report sent out statewide."

While Houston said there is little more he can say, he is still investigating leads and he considers this an open and active investigation.

"Typically, the way the Brand Committee works, if a loss is reported to the inspector, it is then reported to me," he said. "I then begin to investigate, and unless I ask for assistance, the brand inspector has no other part of it. I always try to include the county sheriff and they do the same if they receive the report."

The Highland's estimate their loss, monetarily, at nearly $25,000, but what may be worse, perhaps, is the loss of faith in their fellow man. The ranchers believe that the culprit(s) knew that the cattle were prepared for transport.

"We have had cattle there for four or five years now," she said.

According to Houston, the Nebraska Brand Law encompasses 2/3 of the state, and any sales east of Grand Island do not fall under that law. He added that Kansas is not inspected either, so if the calves are traded in those states, they may never be seen again.

"That is why it is so important to contact us as soon as possible," he said.

To date, none of the missing cattle has been located. Though each calf has been branded on the left hip, (shown below) the ranchers fear they may never know what happened to the calves.

Anyone with information about this case can contact the Kimball County Sheriff's Office at 308-235-3631.