A crime that was at the center of many Western movies is thriving in modern-day California as reports of cattle rustling are on the rise, state livestock officials said.

Landowners and others who opposed transferring Yellowstone National Park bison to Indian reservations in northern Montana have asked a state judge to declare that any bison captured outside the park should be considered livestock rather than wildlife.

State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven said Thursday he now estimates that 15,000 to 30,000 cattle died in the early autumn blizzard that buried western South Dakota in snow nearly two weeks ago.

Attorneys have asked that a minimum bid of $12.75 million be set for an idled South Dakota beef packing plant at an auction scheduled for Dec. 5.

Cash fed cattle prices may equal or surpass record highs this week. Here’s why.

Even in the depths of lingering drought, cattle producers have persevered. Hard choices have been made.