mals. It doesn’t appear that financial resources were the issue. The Livestock Board does not have the power to issue a search warrant or a seizure warrant. These warrants are issued by the local district attorney. The DA involved in this case served the search warrant requesting that the Livestock Board accompany him. As the law enforcement charged with the protection of livestock and livestock production in New Mexico, the Livestock Board had the duty to execute both warrants as directed by the DA. There is no doubt that they entire situation was distasteful and hard on everyone involved. There are many who are still deeply concerned with the entire action. On that, there are two points I would like to make. First, if you do things right, you needn’t be in fear of the law. That was a lesson I was taught from an early age. I grant that in today’s “big brother” environment, that premise may not hold as true as
There Are Not Cowboys Without Good Horses.
Feature YOUR horses in the September 2013 New Mexico Stockman HORSE ISSUE! CHRIS MARTINEZ chris@aaalivestock.com 505/243-9515, ext. 28
it did when my father was teaching me morals and ethics. Second, does anyone remember all those animal cruelty bills we fought off during the 2013 Legislature? How do you suppose this case might have been handled if the Livestock Board wasn’t in place? We have long been a proud and inde-
pendent breed who brooks no interference from outsiders. This is 2013. Communication is instantaneous, there are 24-hour news cycles that are hungry for something they can blow out of proportion, and we are not islands anymore. If we as an industry don’t keep our house clean, someone ■ else will do it for us.
Join New Mexico’s OLDEST Livestock Trade Organization
NEW MEXICO WOOL GROWERS, INC. Representing the interests of the sheep industry for over 110 years... at the Roundhouse, on Capitol Hill and everywhere between. Dues 3¢ per pound of Sheared Wool – Minimum $50 New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc. POB 7520, Albuquerque, NM 87194 505.247.0584 phone • 505.842.1766 fax nmwgi@nmagriculture.org Follow us on the web at www.nmagriculture.org
GIVE RONNIE OR LARRY A CALL TODAY!
MANUFACTURERS OF: Liquid Feed Supplements and Dry Feed for Beef and Dairy Cattle • CLOVIS
LARRY TINDELL P.O. Box 387 • Clovis, NM 88101 575/762-2500 RONNIE TINDELL P.O. Box 100 • Rincon, NM 87940 575/267-5000
•
RINCON
JULY 2013
161