Colorado’s most valuable single goods export is beef. That means ranching is a big part of our economy, but when an animal goes missing the process of reporting that info used to be a little outdated. Until recently.
Two ranchers, Nicole and C.W. Mallery, changed the way missing animals are handled in the state. Nicole Mallery says she knows exactly how difficult ranching can be sometimes. She and her husband C.W. own Freedom Acres Ranch in eastern El Paso County. They raise all sorts of animals, but cattle are a big moneymaker for them. So, they hate to lose one of them, especially to theft.
“Last year we had 15 cattle come up missing. This year already, we’ve had four cattle come up missing,” said Mallery. “It becomes very traumatic. Especially when you’re building up, you know, your herd and particular genetics. It’s hard to replace that. There is no real replacement.”…