Livestock Theft Research Articles

Characterization of smallholder pig production systems in the Western Cape, South Africa.

This study set out to characterize the farming and management practices of smallholder pig production systems in the Western Cape, South Africa. Data was gathered in three municipalities: Khayelitsha (27 farmers), Mamre (26 farmers) and Malmesbury (22 farmers) with the use of a structured questionnaire through both face-to-face and telephonic interviews. The study revealed that smallholder pig farmers in the Western Cape owned on average 37.4 ± 50.5 pigs. Majority of farmers (61%) made use of tattoo markings to identify their pigs, 6% made use of ear tags and 4% clipped the ears of their pigs. More than 25% of farmers did not use any method of identification to mark their pigs. More than half of the respondents (51%) do not have formal recordkeeping systems in place. Livestock theft was found to be a major problem amongst farmers. No differences were found amongst the three study areas and the type of housing system used (P > 0.05). The most popular materials pens were constructed of across the three areas were wood (40%), corrugated iron (16%) or a combination of the two (32%); other materials used were cement blocks (5%), polystyrene (1%) or plastic (1%). Pig farmers kept 43% Large White, 43 % crossbred and 14% Landrace across the three districts. Commercial feed was used by 61% of Mamre farmers whereas Khayelitsha farmers fed an equal amount of by-products (44%) and mixed (44%) feed to their pigs, whereas Malmesbury fed 44% mixed, 33% commercial and 24% by-products obtained from factories to their pigs. Piglet mortality due to the sow lying on her piglets was experienced by 47% of farmers interviewed, whilst 29% had experienced piglet mortalities due to the cold. Perturbingly, 76% of farmers did not send dead pigs for a post-mortem, stating that they could not rely on veterinarians or afford their services. Smallholder pig farmers in Malmesbury (68%) and Khayelitsha (70%) sold their pigs to the informal market, indicating that keeping pigs provided a source of revenue. Mamre marketed 88% of their pigs as weaners, Khayelitsha marketed 73% of their pigs as growers, whereas Malmesbury kept 32% of their pigs as breeding stock. Khayelitsha and Malmesbury marketed their growers at 63.3 ± 41.2 kg and 51.5 ± 30.2 kg, respectively, to the informal market. The study highlights the farming practices of smallholder pig farmers in three districts in the Western Cape. There a few differences in the practices of these farmers, but overall, there are similar limitations that hinder them from improved production, such as limited recordkeeping, theft, lack of infrastructure and finances for post-mortem examination. Smallholder pig farmers in the Western Cape are still mainly selling to the informal market. This informal market is not fully characterized yet in the Western Cape, and more studies are needed to further determine and investigate the benefits of only selling to the informal market.

Identification of farmers problems for development intervention programme: a case study facilitated by the political head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), North West Province

The study intended to identify the problems of the farmers and prioritise them for extension intervention. The study was facilitated by the political head of the department within a hundred days of the resumption of duty. Meetings were facilitated through district offices of both the department and municipalities. The identification of farmers’ problems focused mainly on production, financial and infrastructural projects. 
 Data was collected through a participatory rural appraisal approach. Farmers were allowed to express problems affecting them in a meeting setup. The extension officers (E.O) captured problems expressed by farmers and classify them according to the questionnaire template developed. 
 The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to capture and analyse data. The data was presented to extension officers and management of DARD. The major findings of the study revealed that :( 1) Water supply, (2) Availability of land, (3) Livestock theft, (4) production inputs, (5) Machinery, and (6) fencing were major problems of the farmers. The recommendation of the study was that: (a) Problems be resolved according to their importance and (b) preference for implementation of extension intervention programmes to be a bottom-up than a top-down approach.

Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in Pacific Island countries (PICs): Evidence from communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands

CONTEXTCOVID-19 mitigation measures including border lockdowns, social distancing, de-urbanization and restricted movements have been enforced to reduce the risks of COVID-19 arriving and spreading across PICs. To reduce the negative impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures, governments have put in place a number of interventions to sustain food and income security. Both mitigation measures and interventions have had a number of impacts on agricultural production, food systems and dietary diversity at the national and household levels. OBJECTIVEOur paper conducted an exploratory analysis of immediate impacts of both COVID-19 mitigation measures and interventions on households and communities in PICs. Our aim is to better understand the implications of COVID-19 for PICs and identify knowledge gaps requiring further research and policy attention. METHODSTo understand the impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures and interventions on food systems and diets in PICs, 13 communities were studied in Fiji and Solomon Islands in July-August 2020. In these communities, 46 focus group discussions were carried out and 425 households were interviewed. Insights were also derived from a series of online discussion sessions with local experts of Pacific Island food and agricultural systems in August and September 2020. To complement these discussions, an online search was conducted for available literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSIdentified impacts include: 1) Reduced agricultural production, food availability and incomes due to a decline in local markets and loss of access to international markets; 2) Increased social conflict such as land disputes, theft of high-value crops and livestock, and environmental degradation resulting from urban-rural migration; 3) Reduced availability of seedlings, planting materials, equipment and labour in urban areas; 4) Reinvigoration of traditional food systems and local food production; and 5) Re-emergence of cultural safety networks and values, such as barter systems. Households in rural and urban communities appear to have responded positively to COVID-19 by increasing food production from home gardens, particularly root crops, vegetables and fruits. However, the limited diversity of agricultural production and decreased household incomes are reducing the already low dietary diversity score that existed pre-COVID-19 for households. SIGNIFICANCEThese findings have a number of implications for future policy and practice. Future interventions would benefit from being more inclusive of diverse partners, focusing on strengthening cultural and communal values, and taking a systemic and long-term perspective. COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to strengthen traditional food systems and re-evaluate, re-imagine and re-localize agricultural production strategies and approaches in PICs.

Criminal and criminological analysis of livestock theft

The article provides a criminological analysis of the causes and conditions of cattle thefts, criminal law and criminological aspects, stages of the commission of a crime, as well as the issue of responsibility for cattle thefts, which have recently become more relevant, causing significant material damage to the population. Characteristics of the perpetrators of this type of crime (gender, age, social status), state, place, time, season of the crime. As a result of the study, appropriate conclusions, suggestions and recommendations were made to prevent these crimes.

About the Fight Against Horse Theft in the Irkutsk and Yenisei Provinces in the Late XIX - Early XX Century

The article examines the problem of combating theft of horses and livestock in pre-revolutionary Russia at the state and local level in Irkutsk and Yenisei provinces. The relevance of the opposition to horse-stealing was not so much due to its wide spread as to its negative impact on the socio-economic development of the state. The research aims to find the causes that hindered the effective fight against horse theft in the late XIX - early XX centuries. the example of the largest regions of Eastern Siberia - Irkutsk and Yenisei provinces. Materials of pre-revolutionary research, legislative acts of the Russian Empire, published historical sources, documents of the state archive of Irkutsk region, and modern scientific articles were used for the research. The author analyzed the development of legislation on theft of horses and livestock. It was established that horse theft as a social and legal problem tended to professionalize, and loop holes in law contributed to this trend. The decision on the issue at the local level was initiated by the Ministers of internal Affairs and justice, who communicated with the governors-General and governors, but this did not lead to the adoption of real measures. The foreign population of Irkutsk and Yenisei provinces, among which the problem was most evident, was working to raise awareness of the authorities of the need to integrate legislation from foreign societies into the criminal law system.

The business of farm crime: evaluating trust in the police and reporting of offences

Annual estimates of the total cost of farm crime to the UK economy amount to the region of £45 m (NFU in NFU Rural Crime Report 2018. https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/news-and-stories/rural-crime-report-2018/, 2018). The purpose of this study was to assess the extent, effects and responses to farm crime from key stakeholders, principally the police and farming population. Survey responses were collected from farmers (n = 96) in rural Wales. Key findings suggest that the main categories of farm crime including machinery and livestock theft were similar to national patterns. Perceptions of organised crime groups from outside the local area being responsible for criminal activity were also prevalent. Satisfaction and trust in the police was generally healthy, despite awareness that the investigation and prosecution of farm and/or rural crime was often not being adequately resourced. The implications of this research propose that a broad lack of police training/experience, insight into farming issues generally, and wider organisational resource commitment, all hinder effective policing of farm business crime.

PENERAPAN SANKSI HUKUM PIDANA TERHADAP PELAKU TINDAK PIDANA PECURIAN HEWAN TERNAK

The criminal act of theft is still a dilemma, and this seems a quite serious problem which requires any solution. The problems in this study are what factors cause the theft of livestock, and how the implementation of criminal legal sanctions is against the perpetrators of theft.This study uses descriptive methods through normative approach (legal research), which is based on the facts in the field approach to the problem, and is carried out by examining various legal aspects in terms of applicable regulations.The finding shows that the factors that cause the theft of livestock are economic factors, low appreciation to religion, family factors, environmental / social factors, unemployment, influence of mass media either TV or foreign films, influence of alcohol, and opportunity factor . In addition to these factors, there are objective factors and subjective factors. The implementation of criminal legal sanctions for the perpetrators of the theft is regulated in Article 363 of the Criminal Code. Keywords: Criminal Act, Theft, Livestock

ThIAS (Thief Indication Alarm System) Security Device of Livestock in Animal Cages Based on Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) and Microcontroller Arduino

Research on Thias (Thief Alarm Indication System) safety device of livestock in animal cages based on the Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) and the Arduino microcontroller has been done. This research aims to design and characterize an alarm system or test the success rate of the alarm system. This study can be used as an alarm when livestock theft is occurring. The method used in this research is divided into three stages, design, manufacture and testing. The working principle of this alarm system, when the laser beams hitch the LDR, then the high value of the resulting LDR then produces an alarm notification in the form of sound. The hitch here is a thief entering or exiting the cage. To control the performance of the alarm system use the Arduino microcontroller. Obtained results from this research is a prototype alarm system. From testing, this alarm system obtained a success rate of 100%. The advantages of this alarm system are cheap and simple.

Communal Conflicts in Benue and the Herdsmen Conundrums

The communal conflict between the nomadic herdsmen from northern Nigeria and the agrarian communities of Benue has escalated in recent times and is spreading across boundaries, threatening the country’s security and stability. The activities of the Fulani herdsmen started surreptitiously in Benue State over two decades ago. Approximately 2,500 people lost their lives in 2016 because successive governments neglected the conflict and its victims, and where action was taken, it was insufficient. Consequently, the continual mayhem unleashed by the herdsmen signifies persecution because it was targeted at a particular religious group, and the destruction of their worship centers. Also, the continual violence and the lukewarm attitude of the central government is suggestive of a deliberate agenda, championed by the Fulani herdsmen, to occupy an area considered as being dominated by one ethno-religious group. Familiar problems – relating to land and water use, obstruction of traditional migration routes, livestock theft and crop damage – tend to trigger these disputes. But their roots run deeper. Drought and desertification have degraded pastures, dried up many natural water sources across Nigeria’s far-northern Sahelian belt and forced large numbers of herders to migrate south in search of grassland and water for their herds. Herders migrating into the savannah and rain forests of the north central states are moving into regions where high population growth over the last four decades has heightened pressure on farmland, increasing the frequency of disputes over crop damage, water pollution and cattle rustling. In the absence of mutually accepted mediation mechanisms, these disagreements increasingly turn violent. Majority of Christian communities resent the influx of predominantly Muslim herders, portrayed in some narratives as an “Islamization force’’. Herders are predominantly Fulani, lending an ethnic dimension to strife. This research provides an analysis of the violent conflict in Benue state where most of the victims are Christians. The study critically examines the root causes of the conflict taking into account the nature of abuse targeted at women and children. The research adopted the use of Timeline as analytical tool and concludes that the Fulanis are psychologically conditioned through a cultural practice of revenge. Hence, the urgent need for cultural de-radicalizations and mind healing of the herders, amongst other recommendations.

A CHILD AND MERE HIRELING IN THE URBAN SOCIETY OF THE HETMANSHYNA IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

The article examines the use of hired child labour in the Hetman State society with an emphasis on its peculiarities inherent to the urban population. In general, the labour was the most important element of the socialization of the child at the time, and it worked “seriously”; its work was aimed precisely atthe outcome but not at the process or work itself. This is the main difference from the present-day practices, and that is what made possible and allowedthe widespread use of hired child labour, it was regarded not as an upbringing, but as a real contribution to the family economy.
 The child could make a contribution to the family economy by working directly in the family economy, as well as by working beyond it. At the same time, many kinds of work done, its volume, character, etc. could be similar. At the same time, the work of the son of the artisan on the one hand and his pupil on the other, or the same daughter of the Cossack and his young tenant, bore distinctly different social contexts. Hired labour and apprenticeship meant having a child outside his own family and stated his mobility (within a single settlement or on a larger territory). Such labour migration of children and adolescents was an important part of the separation of the Hetman State city over its district. The concentration of people aged 10-14, and most notably of 15-19 years increased in its population in comparison with villages. Cities offered more variations of the rewards. They had more variety of vacancies and job offers specifically for minors. By concentrating economic and human resources, the Hetman State city gave an opportunity to find work somewhere close to their homes. The child could change the owners several times, but without leaving that same settlement. In rural areas, such migrations took place from farm to farm, or between villages. This state of affairs created a system of competition between the hirelings for good work and between employers for the good hirelings. The mechanisms of such competition, as well as inequality and discrimination related to the work of children, are the problem of a separate study. 
 The city’s advantages are inseparable from its dangers because the social capital acquired by young minors could be negative and extend to the whole family. The presence of migrants, the travelling and marginalized elements, the soldiers on the posts – all of these, typically urban phenomena, gave birth to the demand for prostitution, in which young girls were involved. The boys could be involved in the theft of livestock and things, to fend for fleeing, to steal for service. In this case, the families of hired children not only did not benefit from the earnings of their descendants, but also suffered from the use of equipment, had to pay for damage, and so on. Despite these dangers, the city of Hetman State attracted young people.
 When exploring hired labor in the early modern days, it is worth abandoning the Soviet approach, which considers it mainly as one-sided operation. At present, the most productive is the concept of life cycle service or life cycle servanthood. From this point of view, the service of the house (in Ukrainian historiography labeled with the concept of “hiring” (Ukr. ‘naymy’, ‘naymytuvannya’) does not appear as something permanent, accomplished, but as one of the stages of human life, an important component of its socialization. It is considered not only as a consequence of poverty, but as a certain fuse from this phenomenon, which allowed to survive elementary, to obtain a certain social capital, to acquire some material resources necessary for the transition to the next stage of the life cycle.

A survey of livestock theft at Mogonono village in Kweneng District of Botswana

The objective of this study was to determine the causes of livestock theft, its prevalence and impact on livelihoods of people of Mogonono village in Kweneng District. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire which was administered to 30 randomly selected farmers (respondents) and the Botswana Police Service. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS), version 16.0 (2015). Results showed that all respondents experienced livestock theft and 80% of them said it was high. Furthermore, 50% of the respondents stated that cattle were prone to theft than other livestock species. Fifty percent of the respondents said they lost 5 to 15 herds of cattle and goats each in the past five years while 60% stated that stock theft was high in summer compared to other seasons. The age group of 20 to 30 years was mostly involved in livestock theft. About 47% of the respondents used a combination of ear tags and ear notching for animal identification followed by ear notching alone, branding and bolus (36.7%). Two thirds of the respondents identified their animals at 2 to 3 months of age. Additionally, 70% of the respondents ensured safety of their animals by confining them at night, herding and using animal identification followed by confinement at night only (40%) and herding only (7%). Fifty percent of the respondents indicated that livestock theft affected their livelihoods owing to loss of earnings. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents attributed stock theft to high unemployment rate and readily available markets for stolen livestock followed by high unemployment rates only (30%) and unemployment, absence of police in the area and readily available market for stolen livestock (23%). Overall, the respondents were not satisfied with the way government agencies handle livestock theft cases. Eighty-four percent of the respondents mentioned that sentences given to criminals were not harsh to deter them from stealing again. The current results indicate that livestock theft is high in Mogonono village, thus calling for the need to develop strategies to combat this crime.

Documenting entrepreneurial opportunism in action

PurposeThe contemporary rustler is a shrewd businessman, or rogue farmer exploiting food supply chain anomalies. Indeed, the first conviction in the UK for 20 years was a farmer stealing from neighbouring farmers. The theft of sheep in the UK is an expanding criminal enterprise which remains under researched. The purpose of this paper is to examine what is known of the illegal trade and its links to food fraud from a supply chain perspective with an emphasis on food integrity issues.Design/methodology/approachThere is a dearth of current viable literature on livestock theft in a western context making it necessary to turn to socio-historical research and to official documents such as those published by the NFU and other insurance companies to build up a picture of this illegal practice. This is supplemented by documentary research of articles published in the UK press.FindingsFrom this raw data a typology of rustlers is developed. The findings point to insider “supply chain” knowledge being a key facet in the theft of livestock. Other examples in the typology relate to urban thieves wrestling live sheep into a car and to industry insiders associated with the abattoir sector.Research limitations/implicationsThe obvious limitations is that as yet there are few detected cases of rustling in the UK so the developing typology of rustlers is sketchy. Another limitation is that much of the evidence upon which the typology is developed is anecdotal.Originality/valueThe typology should prove helpful to academics, insurance companies, investigators, industry insiders and farmers to help them understand this contemporary crime and how to prevent its spread. It also sheds light on food integrity in relation to the purchase and consumption of the end product in that customers expect to be purchasing legally and ethically reared animal products.

Colonial Neighbours in an Era of Change

This article describes conditions in Timor in 1945–1949. Many problems facing the Portuguese and Dutch administrations revolved around Timorese activities such as unauthorized immigration, localized warfare, and livestock theft. Australia’s ambitions in the region and the support granted to independence movements by other nations created new challenges. The latter was particularly true for the Dutch, who had to deal with the influence of the Indonesian Republic, whose success eventually led to their departure. Portugal feared a similar fate, but it is explained how local conditions and a deal between Portugal and the Allies during the Second World War allowed it to retain its colonial possessions virtually free of criticism. Most histories of Timor concentrate on either the east or the west part of the island. This article, based mainly on primary sources, details the post-war situation in Timor for all the major groups concerned: the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the Timorese.

PERENCANAAN PENGEMBANGAN SUBSEKTOR PETERNAKAN DALAM UPAYA PENINGKATAN PEREKONOMIAN DI KABUPATEN SUMBA TIMUR

ABSTRACTThe implementation of regional autonomy aims to optimize its resources so that the community welfare and employment increased accompanied by equitable distribution of the fruits of development. In East Sumba district, one of the potential sectors are agriculture, particularly in the livestock sector. However, management at livestock subsector still experiencing various obstacles, so that development objectives have not been fully achieved. The purpose of this study is to (1) analyzing the potential and role of the livestock sector to the economic development in East Sumba district, and (2) formulating alternative development strategy of the livestock sector in order to boost the economy in East Sumba District. The analysis tool used is LQ (Location Quotient), SSA (Shift Share Analysis), and analysis of SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat). The results of this study indicate that the livestock sector is able to contribute or role for the economy as seen from its ability to meet the growing demand from both inside and outside the territory of East Sumba district. Strategy development of the livestock subsector in East Sumba district are: (1) the provision of infrastructure (roads into the center of the product of the livestock, electricity, water, and financial institutions, (2) the procurement of feed industry and processing of livestock, and (3) enforcement of the rules (laws and customs) pertaining to the establishment of development centers, management of communal land, livestock inter-island trade and other supporting institutions. Therefore, (i) intensification of livestock raising is required to provide adequate food and promoting the availability of infrastructure for the survival of farms, (ii) required formal enforcement (enforcement problem of theft of livestock) andinformal (restriction of the number of animals in a custom implementation of activities) to support the development of livestock for improving the welfare of society.

Wildlife-livestock interface, veterinary cordon fence damage, lack of protection zones, livestock theft and owner apathy: Complex socio-ecological dynamics in Foot and Mouth disease control in southern Africa

Current efforts to control and possibly eradicate the highly contagious and economically important Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana are hampered by numerous inextricably linked constraints. These constraints were unveiled using a questionnaire-based approach among 94 communal area livestock owners in eastern Botswana’s Zone 6 (FMD-free zone without vaccination, straddling part of the Central and North East Districts, sharing a common border with Zimbabwe to the east). The area has a history of FMD, with the last outbreaks recorded in 2002 and 2003 prior to the study. Some of the most outstanding constraints in FMD control were (1) rampant cross-border livestock theft, (2) veterinary cordon fence damage attributed to illegal immigrants and an ever-increasing elephant population, (3) livestock interaction with FMD-susceptible wild ungulates on the same rangelands, and (4) an absence of a protection zone (formerly ‘buffer zone’) along the Botswana/Zimbabwean border as well as (5) general apathy towards daily livestock management demonstrated by some owners/herders. The paper further discusses these complex socio-ecological constraints as perceived by livestock owners and offers possible policy considerations including targeted FMD awareness campaigns, strengthening of FMD risk analysis capacity and synchronization of surveillance and control strategies among neighbouring countries as well as adoption of approaches such as compartmentalization and commodity-based trade to enable greater access of Botswana’s beef to high-value international markets.

Building of a community cattle ranch and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as alternative methods of curtailing cattle rustling in Katsina State

Agriculture is the major component of the rural economy in Katsina State. Livestock production is a major component of agricultural activities practised there and is a source of income and a form of security for farmers. Increasing attacks by cattle rustlers have disrupted the stability that had been enjoyed by pastoralists in rural communities within the State. This study investigates the prospect of adopting community cattle ranches and radio frequency identification (RFID) as strategies for containing cattle rustling. Primary data were sourced via structured questionnaires and dichotomous dependent variable models in the form of probit and logit were used. Siting cattle ranches near rural communities is an important determinant for community acceptance of a cattle ranch, while fees as well as ranch sanitation levels would have significant effects on pastoralist decisions to use group ranch schemes. On the other hand, occupation, number of cattle rustled and education are significant factors in determining the use of RFID. There is growing scepticism over the cruelty in the military approach embarked upon by the current administration in combating cattle rustling, which seems analogous to the intervention used to combat the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Therefore, the time is ripe for the government to generate participatory policies whereby consultations should take centre stage in finding solutions to livestock theft. Relevant authorities should urgently build ranches in rural communities, while RFID will be vital to track livestock movement, which will ensure precision for the timely identification of stolen livestock.

Why Has Human–Carnivore Conflict Not Been Resolved in Namibia?

ABSTRACTHuman–wildlife conflict has historically been portrayed as a management problem where solutions lie in technical changes or financial incentives. However, recent research shows many conflicts stem from social, economic, and political drivers. We undertook qualitative data collection on livestock farms to determine whether relationships between farmers and their workers affected frequency of reported livestock depredation in Namibia. We found that the conflict was affected by social and economic inequalities embedded in the previous apartheid regime. Macro- and microlevel socioeconomic problems created an environment where livestock depredation was exacerbated by unmotivated farm workers. Poor treatment of workers by farmers resulted in vengeful behaviors, such as livestock theft and wildlife poaching. Successfully addressing this situation therefore requires recognition and understanding of its complexity, rather than reducing it to its most simplistic parts.

The Mototícachi Massacre: Authorized Pimas and the Specter of the Insurrectionary Indian

On July 29, 1688, the Pima rancheria of Mototicachi went up in flames. All of its residents—without regard to age or gender—were seized and shackled by a group of soldiers from the Sinaloa presidio. The prisoners were taken to the nearby rancheria of Bacoachi, where forty-two men were killed and the rest were transferred to Sinaloa as prisoners of war. The burning, the imprisonment, and the subsequent executions all were ordered by Nicolas de Higuera, a young corporal from the Sinaloa presidio charged with protecting the Teuricachi Valley against the invasions of the Janos, Jocomes, Sumas, and Apaches. Letters written in the days that followed illustrate Spanish fears that the fire at Mototicachi would cast its embers across the then-peaceful Pimeria Alta. The specter of the insurrectionary Indian hovered in Spanish imagination during the late seventeenth century, ever since the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. In August of that year, the seemingly pacified and friendly Pueblo Indians had synchronized a rebellion that succeeded in expelling all Spaniards from Pueblo lands in northern New Mexico. The blood spilled during that unexpected episode fractured the certainties of Spanish officials and fed paranoid concerns across New Spain that any and all Indians could suddenly turn against the Spanish empire and its colonial settlers. Near the Pimeria Alta, anxieties were further fueled by the frequent theft of livestock and the sporadic killing of Spanish soldiers and vecinos. Although most of these assaults were attributed to enemy groups such as the Janos and Jocomes, on several occasions the Pimas were accused of being either accomplices or solely responsible for the attacks.1 The documentary record illustrates that Spanish authorities,

On the application of CRAVED to livestock theft in Malawi

Livestock theft is common in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Experience of theft can deplete household assets and food resources. This article reports the findings of an exploratory study to investigate whether livestock theft patterns in Malawi reflect variations in the extent to which different animals are “CRAVED” (Concealable, Removable, Available, Valuable, Enjoyable, and Disposable), Clarke's mnemonic to explain preferences for items to steal. Measures of the elements of CRAVED were correlated with self-reported levels of theft for seven species of livestock using data from a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of 11,280 households. Higher availability and disposability of livestock were significantly associated with higher levels of theft. Livestock displaying more CRAVED attributes were also stolen in greater numbers. The findings are cautiously interpreted as suggesting that livestock theft in Malawi is largely opportunistic. Implications from and for the application of CRAVED to livestock theft in Malawi are discussed.

Caught in a sandstorm: an assessment of pressures on communal pastoral livelihoods in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana

Despite their importance to rural livelihoods, the economic and environmental sustainability of contemporary communal pastoral systems of the Kalahari is increasingly being put under scrutiny. Using data collected from a survey of randomly selected pastoral households from two districts of Ghanzi and Kgalagadi South, Botswana, this paper outlines the major constraints affecting contemporary extensive pastoral systems. Because of the prevailing semi-arid climate, recurrent drought outbreaks were cited as a common challenge in both study areas together with lack of fenced grazing areas. Stock theft was also highlighted as a challenge, even though it was more pronounced in Kgalagadi South. In Ghanzi area, the other important challenges included loss of livestock due to predation, while stray animals, stock theft and loss of livestock due to road accidents were equally important. Kgalagadi South pastoral households experienced serious shortage of drinking water for their livestock, followed by inadequate grazing land and limited access to distant markets. The preceding, together with several other less prominent challenges revealed in this study, exert pressure on pastoral livelihoods. There is need, therefore, to address these perceived challenges and strengthen resilience through effective policy reviews to secure rural livelihoods.