The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association is pleased with the province's move to address rural crime and cattle rustling.

The Government is creating a Protection and Response Team in rural Saskatchewan, consisting of 258 armed officers with arrest and detention powers.

SCA Chair Ryan Brierbach says cattle thefts, break and enters and the general response time to emergencies in the country are all issues cattle producers and ranchers face every day.

"Hopefully just the presence of them will deter rustling, and maybe make it more likely that somebody will see what they need to see to stop rustling or to stop a rustler."

In addition to the new Protection and Response Team, 40 highway commercial vehicle enforcement officers will be armed, and conservation officers who already carry guns will also be able to respond to calls and make arrests.

While Brierback likes seeing the government take action, he says everyone has a role to play.

"I guess everybody can do their part to be aware of any strange vehicles in the area, keep an eye open for any tracks going into fields where there shouldn't be tracks or any gates that maybe done up differently than how you would have done them up. You know, little things like that that show if somebody has been in there other than you or your family or employees or whoever usually goes in to check the cattle."

The new Protection and Response Team includes 120 police officers, 40 highway commercial vehicle enforcement officers who will be armed, and 98 conservation officers who already carry guns, that will also be able to respond to calls and make arrests.