In California, it’s ok to steal a cow valued at less than $950.
If you rustle a herd one at a time, it’s legal
I don’t think so. An average cow when buying on the hoof, rancher parlance, is double the $950.00 threshold. This isn’t being done randomly or by someone feeding their freezer. It’s an organized theft ring. IMHO.
Where do you take a cow for proper butchering? Not many can do it right anymore. We have bought all of our beef and pork from neighbors for well over a quarter century. One of their biggest obstacles is quality butchers. We’ve lost so many butchers and locker shops in the past 15 years that small ranchers sometimes have to transport the hanging meat 2 hours or more to a butcher shop for cutting and wrapping. Sad really.
One cow is worth thousands on the hoof at today’s prices.
“If you rustle a herd one at a time, it’s legal”
Nope.