While sheep producers are welcoming high prices across SA saleyards, there is concern that the rising value of stock could lead to an increased prevalence of stock theft in the state.
Green Patch-based sheep producer Mark Modra had 130 pregnant ewes go missing from his Edillilie property during late March and early April, and said it was one of many suspicious circumstances in the area this year.
"I'm not 100 per cent sure the sheep have been stolen, but I've spoken to my neighbours in that region and a lot of them have had stock go missing too," he said.
"I think it's due to lambs being worth so much. If someone steals 10 sheep, that's easily $2000 straightaway."
Stock has been stolen from Mr Modra's properties before, with three lots of more than 100 sheep stolen during the past five years.
I've got one neighbour who is a very astute sheep farmer, he locks all his gates, he's got cameras, and he still loses about 100 sheep each year.
- MARK MODRA
Mr Modra believed thefts usually occurred at night in isolated areas with easy getaways, and that stock were taken gradually.
"I think the thieves were going in and stealing small lots, because at one stage I scanned my sheep and I was about 25 down," he said.
He said while it was essential to put measures in place to reduce stock theft, preventative actions were not always effective at dissuading thieves.
"I've got one neighbour who is a very astute sheep farmer, he locks all his gates, he's got cameras, and he still loses about 100 sheep each year," Mr Modra said.
Mr Modra believed GPS trackers or electronic tags hidden under the skin was the best way to improve stock monitoring and security.
"That's still to be developed, but I'm sure we can do it," he said.
Mr Modra said a perceived lack of help from police was leading to many stock thefts not being reported.
"I've had a fair few people talk to me since (my sheep were stolen), some of them have done it on the quiet, they say they don't report their stolen stock anymore, because police don't do anything."
Livestock SA chief executive officer Andrew Curtis said there had been an increased commentary regarding stock theft, and said reporting to police in a timely manner was vital.
"If all a producer reports is that they've lost some sheep in the past three months, it's very hard for police to prioritise that over some other issue that someone else in the community has put to them, where they've got more hope of being able to progress," he said.
Mr Curtis said the key aspects of preventing theft and catching culprits were vigilance and evidence.
"Our understanding is that in most cases if someone is planning a theft they will spend a couple of days in the area doing reconnaissance, and if they see activity or cameras they are far less likely to try to steal."
SAPOL confirmed that while there was a possible lack of accurate reporting, sheep and ewes were the most common commodity reported as stolen, with eight reports of theft of these animals between March 1 and May 27.
Producers were urged to regularly check livestock, with SAPOL saying farmers needed up-to-date records to ensure they had proof of ownership if stock were to go missing.
As well as stock theft, grain and hay theft remains a key problem, with 30 hay bales stolen from a property south of Kapunda between May 8 and May 15.
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