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Another massive cattle seizure, this time north of Lampman

A Lampman area livestock producer caught the attention of the Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS). APSS started the investigation after they received a complaint about the condition of the cattle on the property. On Feb.

A Lampman area livestock producer caught the attention of the Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS).

APSS started the investigation after they received a complaint about the condition of the cattle on the property. On Feb. 28 over 130 cows were seized due to their poor condition.

“When we do a search warrant we always take a registered veterinarian with us. After examination the veterinarian determined that the animals were in distress, as defined in the Animal Protection Act, and the animals were seized,” said Don Ferguson, APSS executive director.

Two cows were too wild to catch, so they remained at the property. The owners were left with the corrective action order, which obliged them to provide the necessary care to animals that remained at the property. During the property check officers also found over a dozen cows corpses. 

The owners have five business days to claim his cattle back, yet to do so they would have to rectify the conditions on the property that led to the animals being in distress in the first place and also cover all costs associated with the seizure.

“At this point, the owner has not complied with those,” said Ferguson.

As of March 6, the seized animals remained in possession of APSS, but the owner has one more day to change the situation.

The associated costs depend on numerous factors. The final numbers will include RM expenses from supplying graders and other equipment to remove snow, so APSS could gain access to the property. Besides, the owner has to cover the tracking costs as well as any labour required for setting up of panels and wrangling the cattle. On top of that, the bill will include a cost for the actual transport of the animals and veterinary care.

“As well they are responsible for the feed and care cost at the caretaker, depending on the length of time that the animals are held, and a number (of animals) there being held, you can look at anywhere between $30,000-50,000,” said Ferguson.

If the owner fails to meet all requirements and pay the bills by the deadline, seized cattle will be sold at the auction.

“The animals can be sold under the section of the act. And what happens with those funds is Animal Protection Services is able to recover its costs, and then any moneys over and above that, because they result from the owner’s cattle being sold, those funds have to be returned to the owner,” Ferguson said.

If criminal charges are laid like with other criminal offences with release conditions the offender will not be allowed to be in care or possession of the animals. However, if the individual was to be charged under the Animal Protection Act, until they’ve been convicted in the courts and an order was made, there is nothing prohibiting them from purchasing more animals. It will take three to six months to collect witnesses' and experts’ testimonies, after which the further actions will or will not follow.

Ferguson also noted that due to extended extreme cold weather they witnessed a 20 per cent increase in call volume across Saskatchewan.

“Conditions that they (the public members) would see during normal temperatures that wouldn’t be concerning to them, are now of concern to them, so they are making the call. And we are thankful that they do, because there has been a number of situations where perhaps the producer wasn’t paying as close attention as they could be, and this necessitated us to intervene and provide recommendations for improvement And a number of cattle has been taken off of pasture and returned to the home property to be provided with the increased supplement of feed,” Ferguson explained.

He also pointed out that in most cases it was also the time when farmers would bring their cows to home properties for calving.

Recently the Mercury was reporting on another big cattle seizure that happened north of Stoughton in the middle of February. As of now, cows were sold, and the money is currently being held in trust. The investigation is ongoing; APSS is waiting on veterinary reports, as well as reports from the brand inspectors' office to prove elements of an offence that would support the laying of charges.