Nearly 70 horses die after eating feed contaminated with monensin
Beutler & Son Rodeo Company in Elk City, Oklahoma, has lost nearly 70 horses used in its rodeo stock contracting business after feed containing a significant amount of monensin was fed to their horses on Aug. 23.
According to a press release from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the feed that caused the horse deaths was from a single bulk order originating from a Livestock Nutrition Center location in Kansas. An ODAFF inspector collected a sample, and it has been sent off for analysis.
On Aug. 31, Ronnie Castlebury, president of Livestock Nutrition Center, released a statement about the contaminated feed.
“We are truly sorry for what the Beutler family is going through,” Castlebury’s statement read. “Our preliminary tests show a load of feed delivered to Beutler & Son Rodeo Company in Elk City contained monensin, which can be toxic to horses. This likely occurred due to a combination of a failed cleanout procedure and a sensor malfunction. We have confirmed this is an isolated incident to this single load of feed from a single facility, no other feed has been impacted, and it is safe for animal consumption.
“We take this seriously and are working with the state departments of agriculture in Oklahoma and Kansas and the FDA to get to the root cause of the problem and will take any and all corrective actions needed.
“Words are cheap, but we are dedicated to assist and support the Beutler family and make this right because our customers and employees expect and deserve it. Our deepest sympathies go out to misters Bennie and Rhett Beutler and family and everyone affected by the recent tragic event at their ranch. The loss of so many valued animals is devastating.”
Monensin poisoning
Sodium monensin, also known by the brand name Rumensin, is an ionophore feed ingredient often added to the diets of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. It is known to increase milk production, control ketosis, reduce bloat, control coccidiosis and improve feed efficiency and reproductive performance.
If dogs, pigs or horses ingest monensin, it can be fatal. For horses, monensin can lead to myocardial necrosis, heart failure and death. There is no cure for monensin poisoning. Veterinarians can only provide palliative care to horses that ingest it. Horses that survive a dose of monensin will most likely suffer from heart damage for the rest of their lives.
Symptoms of monensin poisoning include colic, stiffness, sweating, incoordination, weakness, double or triple heart rate, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and excessive urination.
Beutler & Son Rodeo Company
Beutler & Son has been in business since 1929 and is a fifth-generation operation. They raise and supply bareback and saddle broncs as well as bucking bulls for rodeo competitions all over the United States. Some of these rodeos include Cheyenne Frontier Days, the National Western Stock Show, the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo and Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.
Beutler & Son has had three horses named “PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year”, two horses chosen as “Top Saddle Broncs of the NFR,” and one of their horses was named “PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year” and “Top Bareback Horse of the NFR.”
ODAFF is assisting Beutler & Son with carcass disposal. There is no recall on livestock feed, and it seems to be an isolated incident.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
