Beutler & Son Rodeo Company of Elk City, Oklahoma, reported devastating news that an estimated 40 to 70 rodeo horses passed away.
The well-known stock contracting firm supplies horses to rodeos across the country.
Now, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture is investigating what caused the mysterious deaths.
According to reports, the horses may have eaten contaminated feed.
Wow.
Beutler & Son Rodeo Company is suffering devastating loss after their horses were given contaminated feed.
Over 40 horses have died, with numbers growing.https://t.co/ftS3gTVNvm
— Bryce Doeschot (@BDoeschot) August 27, 2024
Rural Radio reports:
The brand of feed has not been confirmed, though it is suspected the contamination came from cattle feed with rumensin that was mistakenly delivered. Rumensin, also known as monensin, is a feed additive for cattle that is extremely toxic to horses and can be fatal. A toxic dose is about 2.0 mg of monensin per kilogram of body weight, which is similar to a toxic dose of cyanide.
An ongoing investigation is underway as losses have been ongoing since Sunday. Veterinarians attending to the situation are working to try to save livestock, while finding a solution to prevent a situation like this from happening again.
ADVERTISEMENTBeutler & Son Rodeo Company provides bucking horses and bulls to premier rodeos across the country including the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte and Nebraska’s Big Rodeo in Burwell.
This is really really bad folks!
Anyone heard about this yet?— Cattleman
(@cattleguy92) August 29, 2024
This happened here in Oklahoma. It seems highly suspect to me. This family has been in business since 1929. They are well known in the rodeo circuit. Keep this family lifted in prayer. Active investigation ongoing. https://t.co/hpH5huUGRO
— Tawny Maxwell (@maxwe36889) August 29, 2024
Per KOCO:
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture is investigating the feed from Kansas after it received a call from a concerned veterinarian.
“From what I understand, they got some feed from a new supplier,” Kaitlyn Hall, the owner and founder of Lazy H Equine.
Hall has an equine ranch in Elk City, just miles away from Beutler & Son Rodeo Company.
“It was pretty hard, and just knowing that the numbers are still increasing, it’s devastating,” Hall said.
The rodeo community is very close, and Hall said the loss will have a lasting impact across the country.
“It’s going to be big,” Hall said. “It’s absolutely devastating. They’re on the big stage, and everybody knows them and the quality of horses that they have and the quality of people that they are.”
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