UPDATE: In an open letter posted Aug. 31 on the Livestock Nutrition Center’s Facebook page, the president of that company, which has multiple locations across the country, said that preliminary tests on a load of their feed delivered to Beutler and Son Rodeo Company did reveal the presence of monensin. He went on to express sympathy for the tragic losses of the Beutler horses, explaining “we have confirmed this is an isolated incident” and that “no other feed has been impacted.”

The horse world is reeling this week from news of the loss of between 40 and 70 horses, including world champions, at the Beutler Ranch in Elk City, Oklahoma. The ranch is a historic family operation that breeds livestock for rodeos.

The suspected cause is feed milled in Kansas that might have been contaminated with a drug called monensin, which can be highly toxic to horses. According to The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, monensin (trade name “Rumensin”) is a feed additive for cattle indicated “for improved feed efficiency, for increased rate of weight gain, and for the prevention and control of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii.”

 The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is investigating the situation and released a statement on August 29 acknowledging awareness of “the tragic loss of horses at Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. in Elk City.”

Single bulk feed order

The release went on to say:

“ODAFF received word from a veterinarian last Friday, August 23, of a potential issue with horses relating to a single bulk feed order for Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. As the state regulator of animal feed, an inspector visited the Beutler and Son site on behalf of the department on Monday, August 26, and learned that the feed originated in Kansas. The ODAFF inspector collected a feed sample which is being analyzed in two state-certified laboratories.

“ODAFF has informed the Kansas Department of Agriculture of the inspector’s site visit and continues to work in coordination with KDA. ODAFF has assisted Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. with carcass disposal to ensure all state regulations were adhered to.

“State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall encourages all livestock and pet owners to be judicious in reviewing labels on feed provided to animals in their care and contact a veterinarian with whom they have a strong veterinary-client-patient relationship if they have questions about the safety of their feed or ingredients about the safety of their feed or ingredients.”