This is according to research done by WA Lombard, an agricultural economics Master’s student at the University of the Free State.

The statistics was revealed in a statement issued by the VKB/ Free State Agriculture Safety Desk. 

The Desk states that Lombard’s research only focussed on direct losses, indicating that if you take into account loss of breeding animals or supreme genes, the actual figure could be as much as R2 billion per year.

The Desk has also highlighted a serious increase in stocktheft since the beginning of 2016. 

One example is in the Steynsrus area, which was hit three times between April and June 20 to 31 head of sheep slaughtered per incident. In another case in the eastern Free State quality stud bulls worth R450 000 were stolen and later found slaughtered in the veld.

The research also highlighted under reporting of stock theft to be between 60% and 70%. 

Stock theft problem areas include Bethlehem, Ficksburg, Bloemspruit, Harrismith, Phuthaditjaba, Selosesha, Zastron, Heilbron, Vrede and Bothaville.

Source: Statement