DADE COUNTY, Mo -- It's an on-going problem in rural areas of the Ozarks. A Dade County farmer says he lost half his herd of beef cattle.
The sheriff's office is investigating the cattle theft case that took place on Highway 39 north of Greenfield. Keith Hankins says thanks to horse tracks, he can tell how the thieves corralled his cattle and sorted out the calves.
He lost 21 calves, worth more than 800 dollars each. He says he feels violated that people came on his property and took his livestock.
"It takes your breath away. You spend your whole year working and with the cattle and they come in and take your year's profit away, overnight in the dark," said Hankins.
Hankins does have insurance. This is the fourth time his cattle have been stolen.
