Controversial Feedlot Proposal for 5,000 Wild Mustangs in Wyoming
Controversial Feedlot Proposal for Wild Mustangs
Equine Elite LLC, a South Dakota-based company, has proposed a controversial plan to build a massive feedlot in Wyoming to house up to 5,000 wild horses. This proposal has raised significant concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact.
Background and Proposal Details
On May 6, 2020, Equine Elite LLC, co-owned by a businessman with a history of predatory lending practices, secured a local statute change in Laramie County, Wyoming. This change allows the construction of a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) on an 80-acre property under a contract with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The BLM is expanding its holding capacity in anticipation of accelerating the roundup and removal of horses from public lands, following a $21 million budget increase from Congress last year. This has attracted business people and livestock operators seeking lucrative government contracts to hold captive mustangs in large feedlots.
Equine Elite LLC and Martin A. Webb
Equine Elite LLC was formed in March 2019 by Jimmy Dean Reeves, Janna Hickman Reeves, and Martin A. Webb. While little is known about the Reeves, Mr. Webb has been involved in high-interest lending schemes across the country, leading to numerous lawsuits and millions in restitution payments.
Mr. Webb has now shifted his focus to warehousing wild horses. Equine Elite petitioned Laramie County to relax its CAFO permitting requirements, which the Board of Commissioners approved on May 5, reducing the consent radius from three miles to one mile despite local concerns about waste, smell, and water usage.
Additional BLM Wild Horse Feedlots
The BLM is currently analyzing proposals for short-term holding facilities before awarding contracts. Another feedlot is planned by the Kent Cattle Company in Utah to hold up to 1,000 wild horses on 15 acres in Millard County.
According to the latest data, the BLM maintains over 36,000 wild horses and burros in long-term facilities and nearly 12,000 in short-term pens. If awarded contracts, Equine Elite and Kent Cattle Company will join other private operators profiting from the BLM's warehousing system.
Financial Implications and Concerns
Short-term feedlots cost significantly more than long-term pastures, leading to substantial profits for contractors. Critics argue that the BLM should invest in humane, cost-effective fertility control programs instead of expensive warehousing systems that may lead to financial collapse and potential slaughter of excess horses.