Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

Theft and Law

The 30 commissioned peace officers who serve as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) special rangers investigate approximately 1,000 agricultural crime cases and recover an average of $5 million in stolen cattle and assets for ranchers annually.

TSCRA special rangers are commissioned through the Texas Department of Public Safety or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Those special rangers stationed along the Texas/Oklahoma border are dually commissioned to investigate agricultural crime in both states.

TSCRA special rangers are stationed in districts in Texas and Oklahoma where they:

  • Investigate thefts of cattle, horses, saddles, trailers, equipment, and even poaching
  • Pursue white-collar criminals who commit agricultural fraud
  • Inspect livestock to determine ownership and prevent theft after a natural disaster such as wildfire, flood, or hurricane
  • Determine the ownership of estray, or stray, livestock
  • Educate landowners on how to prevent theft and spoil the plans of thieves
  • Keep the peace

Specific qualifications are required for consideration to be a special ranger. Click here to see employment requirements.

Inspectors at Auction Markets

TSCRA market inspectors aid the special rangers by collecting brands and other identifying marks on 4 to 5 million cattle sold at 100 Texas livestock markets each year.

Market inspectors report their findings to TSCRA’s Fort Worth headquarters, where the information is entered into the nation’s largest brand recording and retrieval system. This database is the first source checked when a special ranger receives a theft call.

The national law enforcement network

TSCRA’s law enforcement division has national and international reach. Reports on missing and stolen livestock and equipment are regularly distributed to TSCRA’s network of more than 700 law enforcement agencies.

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association was founded in 1877 as a trade organization for cattle raisers and landowners. As the largest and oldest livestock association in Texas, TSCRA represents more than 17,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families, and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement and livestock inspection services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry news and information, insurance services, and educational opportunities for its members and the industry.