Legal Definitions - cattle-rustling

Cattle-rustling refers to the unlawful taking or theft of cattle. This crime specifically involves the stealing of domesticated bovines, such as cows, bulls, and calves, typically from a farm, ranch, or pasture.

Here are some examples illustrating cattle-rustling:

• Example 1: A group of individuals, under the cover of darkness, infiltrates a large cattle ranch. They use specialized equipment to round up several dozen head of beef cattle, load them onto waiting trucks, and transport them across state lines with the intention of selling them at an illicit market. This scenario clearly demonstrates cattle-rustling, as it involves the organized, unlawful taking of a significant number of cattle from their rightful owner.

• Example 2: A person driving through a rural area notices a small herd of dairy cows grazing in an unfenced field adjacent to a public road. They stop, open a gate that was not properly secured, and manage to coax two young calves into their horse trailer, driving away without the owner's permission or knowledge. This act constitutes cattle-rustling, as it is the opportunistic theft of specific cattle from a property.

• Example 3: A livestock hauler is contracted to transport a shipment of prize-winning show cattle from one agricultural fair to another. Instead of delivering the animals to their intended destination, the hauler diverts the truck to a secluded location, sells the valuable cattle to an accomplice, and reports the truck as stolen to cover their tracks. This situation exemplifies cattle-rustling because the hauler unlawfully deprived the owner of their cattle through a deceptive act of theft during transit.