Forget masked outlaws on horseback: In Saskatchewan, the real threat to cattle producers today are crimes of opportunity, overlooked stock, and informal deals that leave both sides frustrated. Traditional rustling — as in physically stealing cattle — still happens, usually in small numbers, but it’s no longer the main concern.
“We’re seeing less old-fashioned rustling and more fraud,” said Cpl. Owen Third, the RCMP’s dedicated livestock and agricultural crimes investigator in the province. “Because cattle are worth so much, people are using them to scam finance companies, feeder co-ops, or even other producers.”
Cattle fraud, in various forms, is rising alongside market value. With cow-calf pairs fetching anywhere from $5,000 to $7,500, even a modest herd represents six-figure sums. Producers are increasingly vulnerable to bad deals, forged documents, bounced cheques, and verbal agreements gone sour.
An unusual partnership with a surprisingly international reach
Third’s role is unique. Based in Saskatchewan but connected across borders, he supports detachments province-wide while working closely with Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS), which handles brand inspection and transport permits.
“I try to be that go-to person so detachments don’t have to send someone unfamiliar with livestock,” he explained. “I come from a mixed farming background. I know what producers are talking about, and I want to help them protect what’s theirs.”
Both Third and his counterpart at LSS, operations manager and brand inspector Garth Woods, emphasize that these aren’t just local problems.
“We’ve had cases with concurrent files in three or four jurisdictions at once,” Woods said. “Our network includes brand inspectors from Saskatchewan to Texas, California, and even Mexico. It’s a no-red-tape system — just people sharing the facts to help producers recover what’s theirs.”
Because Manitoba does not have brand inspectors, volunteer brand inspectors from Saskatchewan also frequently visit that province to provide checks at events.
Modern crime scene investigations? Perhaps not so much
Modern crime shows might have viewers thinking livestock ownership disputes can be solved with a cheek swab, but interestingly, DNA isn’t reliable in court for cattle.
“Breeding programs make genetics murky,” Woods explained. “You can’t definitively say a calf is yours if the neighbour uses the same bull. Branding is still the only way to make a clear legal claim.”
It’s not just branding. Documentation matters too. Without referring to specific cases, Third gave an example: Say a Saskatchewan producer releases 40 bred cows to a buyer in Manitoba, but the payment never comes through. Without a signed manifest or transport inspection proving those cows with that brand have been sold to that buyer, the seller has no record of the transfer — and no legal recourse.
“We’re trying to educate producers,” Third said. “Don’t rely on handshakes. Fill out the manifest. Get the inspection. Make the deal formal. You’re protecting your livelihood.”
Crime or wandering livestock? It's a big province
While some reports of missing livestock turn out to be criminal, many are simply logistical mix-ups. Animals find a broken fence, employees make mistakes. Sometimes, cows and calves end up in the wrong pasture or end up running free on hectares of unsupervised land.
“I’d say about 100 to 150 reports of missing livestock come in per year,” Woods said. “Most of them are five to six head — and a lot of those turn out to be innocent. But when cattle are worth what they are today, producers aren’t willing to take the risk on an investment like that. They report it right away.”
Third said such incidents affect only a small percentage of the province’s total herd.
“We inspect millions of animals,” Woods added. “Actual confirmed theft is rare. But fraud, and what we call harbouring — keeping cattle that aren’t yours — that’s a growing issue. Maybe you see a pair have wandered off your neighbour's land. It's easier to justify turning a blind eye and just letting them stay in your herd.”
If there’s a single message both Woods and Third want to deliver, it’s that they will work with producers to help them protect their herds. They can educate on the best ways to dot each 'i' and cross each 't'. They particularly emphasized the following:
- Brand your cattle. It’s your VIN number in the eyes of the law. An unbranded animal can, unfortunately, wind up belonging to whoever currently possesses it.
- Make deals on paper. While even an emoji can count as accepting a deal these days, clearly defining each step of the transaction helps avoid confusion, frustration, and civil disputes.
- Stay aware. Know where your animals are — and who you’re selling to.
“My number’s in Beef Business Magazine,” Third said. “Producers reach out to me directly all the time. If you’ve got a concern — even if it’s not criminal — I want to hear it.”
Livestock Services of Saskatchewan can be reached at 306-546-5086, or by email at brands@lssc.ca.