Cuban officials are calling for tougher measures to halt the theft of cattle on the communist island struggling to increase supplies of meat and milk.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma reported that as of May 15, cattle theft had increased 15 percent over the same period last year despite official campaigns to crack down on the problem.

With meat in short supply, a thriving black market has developed in beef stolen from state herds.

``The theft and illegal sacrifice of cattle returns anew to public debate because in spite of all measures it continues to increase,'' Granma said.