Radical group bombs feedlot; be forewarned

A bomb attack at a ranch near Coalinga, Calif., on Jan. 8 completely destroyed 14 semi-tractors and badly damaged many of the livestock trailers used at the Harris Ranch feedlot. The bombs were on timers, secretly hidden under the trucks. The Animal Liberation Front has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fortunately, no one was injured. John Harris spoke to the news media after the attack. He said: “All of us at Harris Ranch are very gratified with the tremendous support given us following the horrific truck bombing that occurred on our trucks last Sunday morning. … We live in a free society and firmly believe in free speech rights, but that does not include the destruction of others’ property or making threats. A civil society cannot tolerate the egregious [remarkably bad] behavior and destructive mindset that some of these radical groups espouse.”

Mr. Harris also said: “We … constantly ensure very humane treatment for our cattle every day. We have utilized world-famous animal behaviorist Dr. Temple Grandin to design and review every aspect of our beef production operation.”

The FBI is investigating the bombing. The Animal Liberation Front is listed as a domestic terrorist group by the Department of Homeland Security.

Ryan Ruppert, from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, explained that farmers who raise livestock need to be aware of the possibility of such attacks. He said: “We don’t know where folks like this will come from or go to. They have a point to make, and we have to be more diligent about who walks onto our properties.”

Ruppert urged farmers to have emergency phone numbers readily available, along with the address of the farm or ranch, so that anyone reporting an incident would have all of that information close at hand.

(Compiled from the Illinois AgriNews, Jan. 20, 2012, Page B1.)