70 rodeo horses dead in Oklahoma from monensin poisoning

USA – In a devastating blow to the rodeo community, nearly 70 horses from the iconic Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. have tragically died after consuming contaminated feed laced with monensin, a compound known to be deadly for horses. 

Monensin is widely used in cattle feed as an ionophore antibiotic, helping to improve feed efficiency, weight gain, and body condition scores (BCS) in beef cattle. 

The compound enhances energy utilisation in the animal, especially in cattle approaching the final stages of pregnancy and calving. It has proven to be a valuable tool for improving nutritional outcomes for cattle.

However, monensin is lethal for horses because it disrupts their cellular ion balance, leading to fatal muscle and heart damage. 

The feed, which the Livestock Nutrition Center (LNC) delivered before August 23, was confirmed to contain monensin. 

LNC, a prominent supplier of custom-blended feeds across the United States, acknowledged that the contamination resulted from a failed cleanout procedure and a sensor malfunction. 

The company has since issued a statement expressing deep regret for the loss, emphasising that this isolated incident affected only a single load delivered to Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.

Rhett Beutler, who manages the rodeo operation alongside his father, Bennie Beutler, reported that the number of dead horses is expected to rise as the family continues searching for more affected animals across their 14,000-acre ranch in Elk City, Oklahoma. 

“We haven’t accounted for a few more horses that may have wandered off and died in the canyons,” said Beutler, who described the impact of the loss as “gut-wrenching.” 

Several prized horses, including world champions, that the Beutler family had bred and raised over generations were among the dead. 

LNC has been cooperating closely with the Oklahoma and Kansas State Departments of Agriculture and the FDA to investigate the cause of the contamination and implement preventive measures, according to Ronnie Castlebury, president of LNC.

The agricultural departments of both states are also conducting investigations, although results are not expected for another two to three weeks.

As the investigation continues, the Beutler family is left grappling with the loss of decades of work and countless prized animals. “There were world champions among the dead,” Beutler said. “We’re just trying to save the remaining horses now.”

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