BLM holsters plan to sell seized cattle in Utah

Cattle seized from public land in Nevada were once headed to Richfield for auction — but federal officials have changed their plans after Utah leaders argued the animals would threaten the state’s $1 billion livestock industry. And any showdown over the controversial roundup should remain in Nevada, according to an April 2 letter Utah Gov. Gary Herbert sent to Acting Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze. "We don’t have a dog in this fight, and that’s why we want them to stay in Nevada," said Washington County Commissioner Alan Gardner. The roundup of his cattle has sparked an intense outcry from critics who see it as heavy-handed federal intervention, although it is sanctioned by court orders. But BLM’s plan to ship the cows 200 miles to a Sevier County auction yard sparked even more controversy. Herbert and other Utah political leaders say the cows should remain in Nevada. "There are serious concerns about human safety and animal health and well-being if these animals are shipped to and sold in Utah," Herbert wrote. But the larger concern appears to be the potential reactions. Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis has told the governor that the proposed sale has generated "public disturbances" from those angered by BLM’s action against Bundy...more