Specialist farm insurer Achmea has launched a livestock theft awareness campaign, in response to a sharp increase in the number of stolen livestock.
According to the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, the number of reported livestock-related theft offences has risen 63% in the last five years.
Achmea’s theft awareness campaign focuses on identifying risks and providing a few simple precautions to help reduce the risk of losing valuable livelihood assets. The insurer has come up with a livestock theft fact sheet, available for download from its website, to help farmers minimise their risk.
Achmea CEO Emma Thomas warned that sheep farmers are more at risk from thieves than ever, following recent reports of booming lamb prices as the national herd declines due to drought.
“Unprecedented lamb prices can certainly drive farm crime; livestock security must be a focus area,” Thomas said. “Along with appropriate insurance, an on-farm risk review is important to identify existing risk-mitigation strategies and what more can be done to minimise the risk of theft.”
Achmea also recently launched a dedicated ram stud stock insurance product to cover theft during transit, as well as mortality and loss of use through accident or sickness.
