Cattle rustling On The Rise In Oklahoma Panhandle

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Cattle rustling is becoming more prevalent in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where more than 150 head of cattle have turned up missing in the last two months. <br/><br/>Ranchers say the far

Saturday, June 9th 2007, 1:59 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Cattle rustling is becoming more prevalent in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where more than 150 head of cattle have turned up missing in the last two months.

Ranchers say the far western Panhandle has long been susceptible to cattle theft because the region is so sparsely populated.

Rancher Bernard Smith of Gate, in far eastern Beaver County, has lived in the Oklahoma Panhandle since 1968 and has lost several cattle to theft over the last 15 years.

Smith believes the recent increase in cattle rustling is due to the high price of cattle. Officials say a 500-pound steer would bring about $1.30 to $1.34 per pound.

Smith and other area ranchers are taking precautions to prevent them from being vulnerable to cattle rustlers.