AB Livestock agrees to pay fine in cattle import investigation

AB Livestock, which operates the El Oro feedlot in Moses Lake, and the Washington Department of Agriculture have reached a settlement after an investigation into the importation of 402 Canadian cattle into Washington.

AB Livestock has agreed to pay a penalty of $20,000 and to reimburse the department $15,000 for costs associated with the investigation. The firm also will enter into a compliance agreement with the department.

The department alleged that AB Livestock violated Washington animal import regulations when the firm brought the Canadian cattle to Washington rangeland in May 2009 rather than the restricted feedlot listed on the import documents.

The agriculture department became aware of the imported cattle in August 2009 and launched its investigation.

AB Livestock disputed the finding, but agreed to a financial penalty and additional state oversight in order to settle the matter and demonstrate a new model for cooperation, said the Department of Agriculture.

The company worked with the state to round up and quarantine the cattle. The state tested the 398 surviving cattle -- three died on the range and one was not found and presumed dead -- and found no evidence of contagious diseases.

"WSDA sets entry requirements based on risk in order to protect the resident animals of the state," Leonard Eldridge, Washington state veterinarian, said in a statement.

Scott Lindsay, president of AB Livestock, also said in a statement that his firm "made every effort to correct and resolve this issue with WSDA as soon as possible. AB Livestock is dedicated to raising the highest quality cattle. Keeping the cattle supply safe is critically important to our success."

In addition to the financial settlement, AB Livestock has agreed to participate in a cooperative compliance agreement intended to increase the state Department of Agriculture's oversight of the firm's cattle feeding operations as a model for future industry participation, according to the department.

The department said it will perform frequent record checks on animals received at feedlots in Washington and make occasional unannounced feedlot inspections to verify the proper receipt of cattle shipments.