Dozens of cattle vanish in Brandenburg's wave of brazen livestock thefts
Dozens of cattle have gone missing from pastures across southern Brandenburg in recent weeks. The thefts have left farmers facing heavy financial losses, with some herds worth hundreds of thousands of euros vanishing overnight. Authorities are now stepping in to address the growing problem. The first major incident saw 31 cattle stolen from a pasture in Grano, causing economic damage estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Shortly after, 48 cattle worth €75,000 disappeared from Raddusch, followed by another 70 animals valued at around €50,000 in the Elbe-Elster district. In total, roughly 150 cattle—including high-value breeding stock—have been taken in three separate thefts.
Police are examining whether the cases are connected, analysing evidence such as tire tracks left near the pastures. Every cattle animal in Germany is registered in a national database, making legal slaughter without proper documentation nearly impossible. This has led Henrik Wendorff, president of the Brandenburg Farmers' Association, to suspect the stolen livestock are being illegally slaughtered abroad.
In response, the state government is meeting with cattle farmers to discuss protection measures. Ministers Hanka Mittelstädt (SPD) and Jan Redmann (CDU) will visit an affected agricultural cooperative in Herzberg to assess the situation firsthand. Meanwhile, farmers and police are pushing for more frequent pasture inspections, better technical surveillance, and urging local residents to report any suspicious activity. The thefts have prompted calls for tighter security and greater cooperation between farmers and law enforcement. With investigations ongoing, authorities are working to prevent further losses and track down those responsible. The economic impact on affected farms remains significant, as recovery efforts continue.
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