The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has introduced a new DNA fingerprinting service as a major weapon in its war against livestock theft.
Deputy Director General, Biosecurity and Food Safety at DPI, Bruce Christie said livestock theft was an extremely serious issue which cost NSW producers millions of dollars each year.
“Livestock theft is a significant burden on our producers,” Mr Christie said.
“We’re hoping the DNA test will be a significant asset to law enforcement in their efforts to prevent livestock theft,” he said.
“It uses advanced technology to provide the tools for law enforcement to better investigate livestock theft, animal welfare or cruelty cases.”
He said he hoped the fingerprinting service, which was recently trialled and is now being used in its first theft investigation, would help to reduce the costly burden on producers.
Mr Christie said it was hoped the service would be extended beyond the State and utilised by law enforcement agencies across Australia.
“The NSW DPI is constantly searching for ways to support our producers using the latest science,” he said.
He said the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures showed there were 422 recorded incidents of livestock theft in the 12 months to December 2018.
