United States-Farmer has to pay for cattle feed while judge decides their fate.

UNITED STATES-FARMER HAS TO PAY COSTS.

A judge has ordered an Ada County rancher to pay $9,500 to cover the costs of caring for his livestock pending a custody ruling later this month.

Hermis Sparks, 73, was charged last month with multiple counts of animal cruelty and failure to properly dispose of animal carcasses after a raid on his farm outside Boise. Officials seized more than 260 cattle and found more than 40 cow carcasses on the property.

The livestock are now in the care of the Idaho Humane Society. A hearing is scheduled for March 11 to determine whether Sparks will lose ownership of the animals.