Bit of a give-away - These clipped ears were a obvious to bystanders at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange at Casino, who reported the potential for cattle theft to police. Photo by NSW Police Media.
A 35 year old Northern Rivers man has been charged with stealing calves from his neighbour after police arrested him at this week's prime beef sale at Casino.
Police allege that a mob of neighbours' cattle were mustered on his property and while the offender returned cows and a bull, he kept five calves and snipped out their ear tags, marking them as his own.
The cattle presented as injured and several people called police to report the incident.
The man will appear in court July 4.