Satellite linked electronic ear tag technology has alerted police within minutes of the removal of sheep from a farm in a mock theft exercise.

Australian farmers lose millions of dollars in stock losses annually, but University of New England criminologists have confirmed new satellite-based ear tag technology could stop stock thieves in their tracks.

UNE criminologists staged a ‘mock stock theft’ and recovery operation from UNE’s SMART Farms on 29 March. The trial tested the ability of data provided through new Australian-designed CERES TAG ear tags to notify farmers of a problem with their stock, and provide enough information for police to disrupt a theft attempt and recover the stolen animals.

Read more at Sheep Central.