A cattle rustling mystery is brewing just south of the Wyoming border in Weld County, Colorado, where at least 14 Black Angus cows are missing and presumed stolen from several ranches.
The suspected thefts, which occurred in early October involve multiple herds northeast of Greeley, said the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.
"The cattle are believed to have been taken some time around the beginning of October; however, the exact timeframe varies,” the Weld County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. "Three separate herds were affected, each with different last-seen-together dates and different grazing locations."
The Colorado Brand Inspector is investigating the case, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Chad Sanger, who owns the 3,000-acre Turnkey Cattle Company, said nine cows in his 180-head herd, worth as much as $36,000, are missing.
“The cows didn’t just walk off the ranch,” said Sanger, who is perplexed by the thefts and noted there are no holes in the fences at his ranch that would have allowed criminals access.
Sanger said he discovered that the cattle were missing during a preconditioning period to strengthen the health of newborn calves and initially thought he had miscounted his herd or some had wandered off to nearby ranches.
However, when he talked with two neighbors, he learned that they did not have his cattle and were missing a total of nine cows themselves.
Other Disappearances
Ranch hands at another large Weld County operation told Sanger that 29 of their cows had also disappeared. It isn’t clear whether the ranch has notified the Weld County Sheriff’s Office of the missing cattle.
None of the cattle missing from Sanger’s ranch are steers or bulls, causing him to speculate that cows, worth up to $4,000 each, were targeted for breeding.
The loss of the cattle represents a significant financial blow for Sanger, whose ranch is a labor of love for his family.
“My goal is to preserve the Western way of life, which seems like it’s fading,” he said.
Art Guttersen, who owns a 35,000-acre ranch in Weld County, said his operation has not been affected by the suspected thefts but hopes those responsible will be brought to justice. “In Weld County, we take that very seriously and will make a good example of them,” he said Friday.
Missing cattle in Colorado are not uncommon. In 2024, 180 cattle went missing along the Uncompahgre Plateau, southwest of Montrose.
Cattle from the latest cases all carry brands, Sheriff’s officials said, that ranchers can look out for.
The brands include one featuring an “S,” one featuring a “W” and another that spells out “VIS,” according to the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about missing cattle in Weld County should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 970-356-4015.
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
