To match Feature CATTLE-RUSTLING/
Nancy Schleining of Schleining Genetics brands a pregnant cow, which has just arrived from Montana, at her cattle feedlot in Ault, Colorado November 21, 2011. Cattle rustlers, casting aside saddle and spurs for modern horsepower, are roaming the West with four-wheel drive and GPS technology in a resurgence of livestock thievery considered a hanging offense on the old frontier. State livestock officials said the increase in cattle crimes was linked to the slumping economy, soaring beef prices and the advent of handheld global positioning systems that allow rustlers to more easily navigate the wide-open range. They said contemporary thieves may find it more convenient and lucrative to pick off a couple cows, worth as much as $2,000 a head, than to rob a convenience store. Picture taken November 21, 2011. To match Feature CATTLE-RUSTLING/ REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES - Tags: ANIMALS BUSINESS)