Earlier I stated that the federal government was in the right to take the cattle, but they were doing it in the wrong way. After more information and more thought on the subject, the fed was less in the right, and the signs of cronyism just exacerbate it.
What should have, or should not have happened is hard to parse, but it is good that it was ended peacefully. Hopefully all future over-reaches of authority can be calmed as quickly.