They have this high tech ID system called "a brand" which can assist in the issue of disambiguation of ownership for open range cattle.
There is even a higher tech method called EID (Electronic ID) which uses a subcutaneously embedded electronically scanned barcode sort of thingy. As cattle pass by the reader it captures the ID number which is registered to a specific owner/specific site ID, and specific animal. There are hand held scanners as well for portable field use.
Oklahoma is a fence-in state. Owners/managers of livestock are required by law to fence in the livestock. There is an actual specification (rather loosely written) which spells out what constitutes due diligence with respect to fencing in stock. I think it is three strands of barbed wire for cattle. If you have properly constructed fences that meet the state description and then stock gets out you are not automatically at fault.
I personally have 5 and 6 wire barbed wire fences. As I change out old wire or build new fences I use only 4 point wire. Minimum fence as prescribed by state law allows 2 point wire. I am currently fencing in some of my as of yet not fenced in highway frontage. I am using graduated field fence as the space will be used as a maternity ward part of the time and small calves will go right through a barbed wire fence. They may not figure out how to get back in but they always figure out how to get out.
I think all states should go to fence-in laws but big cattle guys are often well connected politically and so it may be a while. Why should everyone else have to protect themselves from someone else's animals? Isn't it a lot like if you started shooting at random toward the land outside your borders and if anyone didn't like the potential consequences then they could put up berms to stop the bullets and protect their interests?
Oh, nice entry.
Pat