Recover lost or stolen cattle
Use Find Owner to search photo-based matches within 48 km of a selected location. This also includes cattle marked lost in the same country.
Get started
From first sign-up to a fully protected herd.
Shepskey turns a verified WhatsApp number and clear cattle photos into a trusted, recoverable record for every animal you own. Here is how to register, identify and safely manage your cattle.
YOUR PATH TO A PROTECTED HERD
Six steps, and your cattle are on record
1
Create your account
Choose the country where your cattle are kept, then sign up with your WhatsApp number, email address and a secure 6-digit PIN. Use these details to sign in to the web portal.
2
Verify your WhatsApp number
Enter the one-time code Shepskey sends you. This links your WhatsApp number to your account and protects important actions such as ownership transfers.
3
Add a kraal
Choose the district, chiefdom, village and location where your cattle are kept. Every animal belongs to a kraal, which keeps its record connected to the right community.
4
Register each animal
Add the name, breed, gender, age, colour and an optional ear tag for each animal. A new animal begins with full access during its initial access period.
Colour is a broad category, not an exact match. Choose from Solid White, Solid Black, Solid Brown or Mixed Pattern. The three solid options each cover the whole range of that shade — a pale Jersey and a dark Devon are both "Solid Brown" — and a small preview shows sample shades when you pick one. Mixed Pattern covers any patched or multi-coloured coat, including black-and-white. Colour only helps narrow a search; the six nose photos do the real identification.
5
Add identification photos
Upload front, left side and right side photos, plus six close-up identification photos — every animal's record is as unique as the animal itself.
This is the step that protects your cattle. Shepskey compares the six identification photos, promotes the clearest one to the primary image, and needs at least three others to match it closely before the record is ready for photo-based identification.
6
Keep access active
After the initial full-access period, pay for the animal to keep full access. Cattle with limited access stay on record, while features such as selling and transferring require full access.
WHY THIS PROTECTS YOU
Every step closes a real risk
Prove ownership before you trade
Buyers can check a record before paying, and sellers can show a clear record — cutting the risk of disputed or stolen cattle changing hands.
OTP-protected where it counts most
Transferring ownership requires a one-time code from both the previous and new owner, so no one can move your cattle to another account without you.
A record that holds up
Kraal, photos, verification and transfer history all live on one account — a clear record if ownership is ever questioned.
Extra checks for new records
If a new registration appears to match a lost animal, Shepskey creates a private review for the team. It is a lead, not an accusation; the animal remains usable, but cannot be listed or transferred until the review is resolved.
WHATSAPP SUPPORT
Report from WhatsApp, manage from the portal
Once your number is verified, message the Shepskey WhatsApp number with "hi" or "hello" to reach the main menu — it shows your name, your cattle's access status, and three quick actions. A spotted report only asks for the cattle's colour and a short note; Shepskey files it against your registered kraal location, so there is no location to type.
Shepskey WhatsApp number: +1 555-802-1762
Not registered yet? Message that number and we'll reply with a link to create your account first. Everything else — Find Owner, the marketplace, transfers and community notices — lives in the web portal, which sends you a push notification whenever there's something to see.
BEFORE YOU UPLOAD
Get identification-ready photos on the first try
- Use good light and avoid dark, blurry or heavily shadowed shots.
- Keep the animal steady and make sure it fills the frame for identification photos.
- Photograph one animal at a time — never reuse a photo across different cattle records.
- For front and side photos, include enough of the animal to confirm it visually.
Ready to protect your herd?
It takes a few minutes to sign up, verify your number and add your first animal. Every step after that makes your cattle harder to lose and easier to prove are yours.