Cattle Theft Continues in Southwest Missouri

WILLARD, Mo - Greene County deputies continue to see an increase in cattle thefts.

The most recent happened Wednesday night. Seven cows -- four heifers and three bulls -- were taken from Clearwater farm. That's just off Highway 266 near Willard.

Jim Pipkin has more than 700 Black Angus cows. Thursday morning, he noticed three bulls were out of place and other cattle were mixed in the wrong pastures.

"You can tell it was a hurried project cause we never leave anything out like this."

Now authorities are investigating the disappearance of cattle that hold a value of more than $20,000.

"Panels were slung out. You can tell it was half-hazardly, just enough to get them on the trailer, get them confined and get them gone."

He and his family have been farming Angus cattle for the past eight decades.

"My dad found these fences cut when he started checking."

Now, for the fist time ever, Jim doesn't feel so secure about his livelihood.

"You feel violated for sure. You always feel you're immune to it because of the extra precautions you take."

On the night of June 12 and morning of the 13th, "probably about 8:30 to 7 a.m." the cattle were stolen.

"They basically lined up a trailer along the fence line and took panels off here and the building up there and made a semi corral here."

Jim says the thieves entered through the gate just off Highway 266, then through a pasture where they cut a fence, which knocked out high voltage electricity for almost three quarters of a mile.

"They had to have had insulated tools, or gloves or had done it before."

Someone has done it before. About a year and a half ago, Jim's fence was cut, but no cows were stolen -- unlike his neighbors just down the road.

"You know the sense of rage they feel, dealing with the parasites of society as far as I'm concerned."

And Jim feels his cows are gone for good, out over $22,000, and fed up with what's been happening to him and the rest of the local cattle farmers.

"Sure we'd like to have them back, but I want the people that did it more than I want the cattle."

And Jim did mention each cow at Clearwater farm is tagged and tattooed, so he feels the cows can only be sold out of state.

As for insurance on the cows, Jim only has a flat coverage plan. He said having insurance on each head of cattle would just be too expensive.

(Source KQTV)