United States-Government seize 130 cattle from farmer.

UNITED STATES-GOVERNMENT SEIZE CATTLE.

The owner of a beef ranch south of Meridian is outraged after being the target of what officers are calling possibly the largest cattle seizure in state history.

"Spent over 23 years in the military because I supported this country, but now it’s not the country I grew up in," said Hermis Sparks, the animals’ owner.

Sparks is furious that all 130 of his beef cows were rounded up and hauled away by officials with the Idaho Humane Society and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

"If they don’t allow me to have these animals back or don’t allow me to pay for them. There’s probably $200,000 worth they’ve just stolen from me," he argues.

During the raid, officers claim to have found 32 dead cows on Spark’s property. He says they’ve died off little by little over a number of months and he hasn’t had a chance to dispose of their bodies. But since numerous other animals were underweight, investigators decided it was time to act.

"Our initial findings at this point indicate that we have a malnutrition problem on this property," explains Dr. Jeff Rosenthal, with the Idaho Humane Society.

They say it’s a frustrating situations since they’ve been dealing with Sparks for years and no one wanted to see it come to this.

"I believe Mr. Sparks has had many, many offers of assistance," says Rosenthal.

Neighbors aren’t convinced that Sparks has been starving his cows -- and suspect something else may be going on.

"I do know that he feed the cattle.. I don’t know if he feeds them enough. I see him out there everyday feeding them," remembered neighbor Glen Edwards.

Sparks says his animals are under weight because some of them are anemic -- and that can lead to malnutrition.. He wonders why the state can’t just let him run his cattle ranch in peace.

"Goes down to MYOB and for anybody who doesn’t know what that is, it’s mind your own business," he says.

The cattle have been transported to an undisclosed location where they will be evaluated further. They will also receive food and medical care. The Ada County Prosecutor will determine if Sparks will face any neglect or animal cruelty charges.