South African producers know the blood, sweat, and tears poured into raising cattle. Every herd is more than just an asset. They represent your hard work, livelihood and legacy. Yet livestock theft remains a silent predator.

While it is virtually impossible to insure your herd against all types of theft, you don’t have to face this battle alone. That is why we are constantly searching for proactive solutions to advise our clients on. As much as insurance is just one layer of defence, it is important to have a broader approach to risk management to keep your herd safe.

Fortify your defences

Livestock thieves tend to look for the easiest target. Making it harder for them means they might move on. Here’s how you can fortify your farm from thieves:

• Branding and identification: If your cattle end up at an auction, can you prove they’re yours? Make sure your branding, microchips, and tags are up to date and registered.
• Fencing matters: Electrified or reinforced fencing isn’t just a barrier. It’s a statement that your farm is off-limits.
• Change your routine: Criminals watch for patterns. Mixing up your schedule and conducting surprise livestock counts can throw them off.
• Track your herd: GPS collars and RFID tags don’t just potentially help with recovery; they act as silent deterrents against theft.
• Surveillance and evidence: A well-positioned camera isn’t just about catching thieves. It can potentially stop them before they even try.

Despite all precautions, the reality is that you can fall victim to livestock theft at any time. The challenge presents when an individual needs to identify their cattle, especially if some of the aforementioned precautionary methods have been compromised or removed.

We entered into a new and exclusive arrangement with ID Scan, to offer you a permanent, tamper-proof and data-driven approach of identifying your cattle in the event of theft. ID Scan is creating an internationally recognised animal-identity database based on each animal’s unique biometric identity. At IntegriSure, it’s not just about recommending insurance products; it is about offering you proactive and innovative methods to protect your herd. That’s why we will stand in for the registration cost of onboarding up to 100 animals registered on SA Stud Book per producer, on the ID Scan system.

You’ve worked too hard to let thieves steal your future. While we cannot yet insure your livestock against theft, we can help you to ensure that your animals will always be traced back to you.

For more information, contact Kallie Cilliers, commercial director at IntegriSure, at 082 467 1776 or kallie@integrisure.co.za.