By Wesley Harris
“Cattle rustling”—the theft of livestock–and farm and ranch equipment, and even saddles, is alive and well in Louisiana and across America. Louisiana combats agricultural crimes through its Brand Commission, a team of law enforcement officers with specialized training.
The Brand Commission has embraced technology in its efforts to recover stolen saddles. A good saddle can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars and does not bear serial numbers or other identifiers to trace it back to its owner.
Stolen Horse International, a U.S. nonprofit organization, suggests microchipping saddles as well as horses and other animals. While the practice isn’t widespread in the U.S., the Brand Commission is working to microchip saddles of Louisiana residents.
The microchip identification program provides all saddle owners in Louisiana the opportunity to have their saddles registered and identified with a microchip implant. If a microchipped saddle is stolen, the program allows brand officers to confirm ownership and return the property.
The Brand Commission, a unit of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), will host a saddle microchipping event on Thursday, February 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s DeSoto Parish Extension Office, 10117 Highway 171 in Grand Cane, La.
The microchipping service is provided free to the public.
“Saddles are expensive and typically do not have identifiable marks or serial numbers,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain. “This program assists with the return of saddles in the event they are stolen. We’ve had great success with the program thus far, chipping hundreds of saddles. We are proud to be able to bring this service to our equine community.”
Should there be any questions, please contact the Livestock Brand Commission at 225-925-3962.
