More than a dozen calves stolen off three NM ranches

New Mexico Livestock Inspector Bea Bell said 14 calves, between two- and six-weeks old, have been stolen over the past month from three ranches along Riley Road that runs from Bernardo to Magdalena. "The majority have been taken from one ranch," Bell said in a phone interview. "We found tire tracks in one of the pastures." Bell said they have ruled out predators as the cause of the missing calves since no blood or carcasses or parts of carcasses have been found. "Right now it's very suspicious," she said. Most of the ranchers have removed cows with newborn calves from the area to a more secure part of their ranches in order to avoid losing any more of their cattle to the thieves. The stolen calves had not been branded yet because of their age, Bell said. Bell said because of some of the calves' age, whoever took them will also have to feed them supplements since they were taken from their mothers. Bell said DNA testing can also be conducted to determine ownership if the calves are found...more