Heard at the Trough

Ranch Sales, Cattle Thieves and Free Stuff

Victoria G Myers
By  Victoria G. Myers , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
(DTN/The Progressive Farmer file photo by Chris Clayton)

WAGGONER RANCH SELLS. Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke just bought Texas' largest ranch, which had been on the market since August 2014. Waggoner Ranch, at 535,000 acres, was listed for $725 million; it's unknown how much Kroenke actually paid. The sports billionaire promised to protect and preserve the property, according to broker Bernie Uechtritz. The operation had been in the family since 1849, when it was founded by Dan Waggoner.

CATTLE THIEF GETS 30 YEARS. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association reports Clinton Easter received 30 years prison time for stealing cattle. Easter was convicted of two, first-degree felony cattle theft charges in Coleman County, Texas. Eastland was caught after a reader of the TSCRA magazine called in a tip on cattle Easter tried to sell at the Graham County livestock auction. Officers recovered not only stolen livestock, but trailers, guns and farming equipment.

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CHINA BLOCKED AS IT TRIES TO BUY UP AUSTRALIAN RANCH. A 100-year-old cattle ranch in Australia, known as Kidman & Co., is on the block, and the high bidder is a Chinese firm, Shanghai Pengxin Group. The Chinese firm bid $213 million (U.S.) for the cattle business, but the sale has been blocked on grounds of national security. Among other things, Kidman & Co. produces grass-fed beef for export to Japan, the U.S. and parts of Asia.

FREE ONLINE BQA CERTIFICATION. Through April 15, cattle producers (beef and dairy) can get online Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training for free, saving the $25 to $50 fee. The service is provided through Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc (BIVI). The BQA program is tailored to each segment of the cattle industry, and covers best management practices like administration of health products, reducing injection site blemishes and low stress handling. Go to www.bivi-bqa.com to take advantage of the offer.

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Victoria Myers

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