State agriculture officials are investigating after dozens of horses reportedly fell ill and died last week at an Oklahoma ranch known for raising generations of award-winning rodeo cattle.
As many as 40 to 70 horses died on the Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. farm. near Elk City, about 110 miles west of Oklahoma City, after eating bulk food suspected of being contaminated. local reports.
The ranch’s co-owner, Bennie Beutler, told the story local channel News 9 that the horses began to die not long after eating the feed.
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“We put the feed out and we lost a few that morning, and we lost a few more that afternoon,” Beutler said. “I said, ‘It has to be the food, they don’t just lie down and do that.’”
Kaitlyn Hall, owner of the Lazy H Equine ranch a few miles away, told ABC affiliate KOCO that Beutler “received new food from a new supplier.”
Beutler told News 9 that his ranch, which has been raising rodeo cattle since 1929, still has 140 horses. However, some of them are still very young and will need bottle feeding after losing their mother.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry confirmed in a statement to JS that it is investigating the incident after being contacted by a veterinarian last Friday.
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A sample of the feed is analyzed in two state-certified laboratories. Because the feed originated in Kansas, state authorities were also contacted, Oklahoma officials said.
While state officials have not yet said what may have contaminated the feed, multiple outlets have pointed to a drug called monensin sodium as a possible cause. Dr. Gregg VeneKlasen, a Texas veterinarian who cares for the Beutler horses, said The Oklahoman that the food was mixed with a large quantity of it.
Monensin, also known by the brand name Rumensin, is used to improve the health of cattle, sheep, goats and chickens when used as a feed ingredient. Monensin is poisonous however, for horses and pets such as dogs.
In a statement, Ohio’s state veterinarian, Dr. Rod Hall, urges livestock and pet owners to use judgment when reviewing pet food labels before feeding and to contact a veterinarian if they have any questions or concerns.
Representatives for Beutler did not immediately respond to JS’s requests for comment on Friday.