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Rhett Beutler, the co-owner of a virtually century-old Oklahoma firm that provides inventory for rodeos, says he suspects tainted feed is guilty after as many as 70 horses died per week in the past. 

Beutler, co-owner of Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. close to Elk Metropolis, informed KFOR-TV that the horses died shortly after being fed.

“We did not know what was occurring, we simply obtained the feed and began feeding it like at all times,” Beutler informed KFOR-TV. “Then abruptly regarded up and there was horses simply falling over, dying.”

The feed originated in Kansas, in accordance with an announcement from the Oklahoma Division of Agriculture, which has collected a pattern of the feed to investigate in two state-certified laboratories. The company mentioned in an announcement that it’s also working with the Kansas Division of Agriculture to research.

Beutler and Son officers didn’t instantly return messages searching for remark Friday.

“All them horses are form of like my youngsters; I’ve raised them from time they had been born,” Beutler informed KOKH-TV, “When you lose one, that is one too many.”

The Oklahoma Division of Agriculture mentioned an inspector visited the Beutler and Son web site on August 26.

“Now we have initiated an investigation which incorporates labeling procedures, working procedures and a evaluate of their information to make sure the suitable protocols had been adopted” in producing and transport the feed to Oklahoma, mentioned Kansas agriculture spokesperson Jamie Stewart.

Whereas the supply of the problem hasn’t been recognized, an equine specialist informed KFOR that it is doable a mill that additionally produces cattle feed may have included Monensin, an additive that’s used to regulate parasites and which is given typically to cattle. It is lethal to horses, nevertheless.

“It impacts their coronary heart and so it causes necrosis of the center tissue, primarily and so in essence, they form of have coronary heart assaults and so it tends to be fairly speedy onset,” mentioned Kris Hiney, equine extension specialist for Oklahoma State College.

Feed firm not recognized

The corporate that supplied the feed has not been recognized due to the continuing investigation, Stewart mentioned.

Dr. Gregg VeneKlasen, of the Timber Creek Veterinary Hospital, the Beutlers’ veterinarian, declined to touch upon the deaths aside from to name it a “tragedy.”

Beutler and Son was based in 1929 as Beutler Brothers close to Elk Metropolis, about 105 miles (169 kilometers) west of Oklahoma Metropolis, and offers inventory for rodeos, together with the Nationwide Finals Rodeo.

The corporate is offering nearly all of inventory for the Elk Metropolis Rodeo beginning Friday evening, in accordance with Elk Metropolis Rodeo board member Randy Hargis, who mentioned the occasions embody bareback horse using, saddle bronc using, bull using and steer wrestling.