RECALL: CHS recalls animal feed due to high copper levels

CHS Inc. has implemented a voluntary recall of 50-pound packages of its Kountry Buffet 14% Text and Provider 15% Pellet, both for Mature Cattle, Horses, Goats & Sheep due to excessive levels of copper.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date. Consumption of the affected product may cause potential health risks, including death, in sheep. Symptoms of copper toxicity in sheep include lethargy, anemic appearance, excessive teeth grinding, extreme thirst, pale membranes (jaundice) and bloody urine.
The recalled products were manufactured in September 2015 and October 2015 at CHS Inc.’s Harrisburg, Oregon, feed mill and distributed to 42 customers in Oregon and Washington. Kountry Buffet 14% Text features a salmon-colored label attached to a brown bag. Provider 15% Pellet features a yellow label attached to a brown bag. Affected Lot numbers for either product can be found at the bottom of the label and are as follows:
Kountry Buffet 14% Text Lot #

• 85092415-M702660
• 85100615-M720130
• 85101215-M728050
• 85101515-M734590
• 85102315-M748470

Provider 15% Pellet Lot #

• 85101415-M732580
• 85101515-M734810 

The potential presence of high copper levels was detected by routine sample tests of the product conducted by a third-party lab. After notifying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in early November, the company began to proactively contact affected dealers and end consumers to inform each of the voluntary recall of all unconsumed product in the listed Lot numbers.
Consumers who purchased this product and have remaining quantities should immediately discontinue use and are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.800.398.0327 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT. Information also is available at www.paybacknutrition.com.

Tainted feed results in deaths of 47,000 turkeys

• 

  USDA

  Tainted soy oil cost a West Michigan turkey farm more than $1 million when it killed 47,000 turkeys and ruined 500 tons of feed.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Tainted soy oil cost a West Michigan turkey farm more than $1 million when it killed 47,000 turkeys and ruined 500 tons of feed, federal authorities said.
  Shur-Green Farms of Ansonia, Ohio, allegedly continued to sell the tainted product after the turkey deaths. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the company intentionally misrepresented industrial waste tainted by drug residue as recycled restaurant oil.
  FDA said at least two shipments of the waste byproduct, which is intended only for fuel use, was sold in September 2014 as soy oil with the implication that it was fit for use as food.
  The oil was used at Sietsema Farms of Allendale, Michigan, where turkey flocks at five of the farm’s locations died in August 2014 after eating feed that contained the oil. All the birds died before they went to market.
  Sietsema Farms believed the oil it bought was restaurant-grade oil used in the manufacture of pelleted animal feed, and was unaware of the drug content.
  Also as a result of the feed contamination, 35,900 head of swine were held from market for 29 days to assure none of the drug residue would be in the meat when they went to the slaughterhouse.

RECALL: Bartlett Milling Company recalls horse feeds

Bartlett Milling Company has initiated a limited recall of certain horse feeds due to potential Rumensin contamination. The products were distributed to customers and retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Rumensin contamination can result in health problems, including mortality, in horses. The products and lot number involved in the recall are:


• 50 lb. bags of Bartlett Pasture Horse 10 Feed - Lot 288
• 50 lb. bags of Cleveland Carolina Champion Horse Feed - Lot 288
The recalled products were packaged in typical brand-specific feed bags. Lot numbers are printed on the front and back of each bag.
Retailers have been contacted and instructed to immediately withdraw from sale the recalled product and to notify customers who purchased the product. Customers should discontinue feeding the product immediately. Customers who purchased this product should return remaining bags to their retailer.
For more information on the product recall, contact Bartlett Milling at +1.800.438.6016 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact Bartlett at 1.336.655.1840 outside of regular business hours.
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Purina Animal Nutrition recalls some poultry feeds

The Purina Animal Nutrition LLC feed plant in Portland,Ore., has initiated a limited recall of certain poultry feeds due to the potential for lower-than-expected vitamin and trace mineral levels. The products were distributed to retailers in Oregon and Washington.
Inadequate vitamin and trace mineral levels can result in health problems, including mortality, in poultry. No customer complaints have been received to date.
The products and lot numbers involved in the recall can be found here.
The recalled products were packaged in typical brand-specific feed bags. Lot numbers are printed on the sewing strip of each bag. Lot numbers are interpreted as follows:
Example 4APR09RIV1: 4=Year / APR=Month / 09=Day of Month / RIV=Plant Code / 1=Shift code.
The problem was discovered during the investigation of an ingredient inventory discrepancy.
Retailers have been contacted and instructed to immediately withdraw from sale the recalled product and notify customers who purchased the product. Customers should discontinue feeding the product immediately. Customers who purchased this product should return remaining bags to their retailer.

FDA announces website to report livestock animal feed problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there is a new website available to the public to report problems related to livestock animal food.
The Livestock Food Reporting portal will accept reports about foods made for species considered to be livestock, including but not limited to, horses, cattle, swine, poultry and fish. FDA encourages anyone with concerns about animal feed to file a report, including veterinarians and livestock producers. This online portal provides an additional means for consumers to register complaints, and FDA's District Office consumer complaint coordinators will continue to accept reports via phone.
The Livestock Food Reporting portal is the latest addition to the Safety Reporting Portal, an online system designed to streamline the process of reporting product safety issues to the FDA and the National Institutes of Health. 

Jury rules against Land O'Lakes Purina in dairy cow poisoning case

A jury has ordered Land O'Lakes Purina Feed to pay a pair of dairy farmers in Tillamook, Ore., $750,000 in damages for poisoning their dairy cows.
The trial, which wrapped up in December 2013 in Tillamook County Circuit Court, ended on a 10-2 verdict in favor of Neal and Nancy Kaste after food from Land O'Lakes Purina Feed killed 140 of their milking cows, Tillamook County Pioneer reported.
Despite the jury's wishes to increase the damages, the judge capped the maximum award at $750,000 plus attorneys' fees.
A salesman from Land O'Lakes, who was not trained in animal nutrition, adjusted the formula of feed sold to the Kastes, upping the amount of copper in the feed to six times the required level and taking out needed phosphorous. As a result, the excessive copper slowly poisoned the cattle, while the lack of phosphorous caused the cattle's bodies to begin feeding on the phosphorus in their bones.
"These cows were literally dying on their feet," said Anne Foster, one of the Kaste's attorneys. "Dairy farmers are close to their cows. The Kastes had names for all of them. They began watching their cows get sick and die before their eyes, and at first they didn't know why."
The Kastes began purchasing feed from Land O'Lakes in November 2005, unaware that it contained dangerously high levels of copper. Shortly after, their cows started to produce less milk and appeared sick. Over the next two years, the problems worsened until the end of November 2007, when many of the Kastes' animals started dying.

Cargill conducts voluntary recall of select poultry feed

Cargill's animal nutrition business has announced a voluntary recall of two of its Nutrena NatureWise poultry feeds due to incorrect levels of calcium. The affected products were manufactured at Cargill's facilities in Flora, Ill., Oklahoma City, Okla., Abilene, Texas, and Mineola, Texas, between May 1, 2013 and Nov. 21, 2013.
Products were sold under the name NatureWise Meatbird 22% Crumble with the following product codes: 91585-40; and lot code range: FL3121-FL3325. The product was sold in 40-lb. bags. The second product is NatureWise Chick Starter Grower 18% Crumble with the following product codes: 91577 and 91577-40 and lot code range: FL3121-FL3325, AT3121-AT3325, MN3121-MN3325 and OC3121-OC3325. This product was sold in 40-lb. and 50-lb. bags. The recall does not include either product sold in 7-lb. bags. Cargill is taking appropriate steps to retrieve all affected products.
Calcium is an essential nutrient for poultry. Decreased levels of calcium in diets for meatbirds and starter chicks may lead to reduced bone growth and other bone health issues. Customers should call their veterinarian if their animals have experienced adverse health effects while consuming the affected product.
Customers should return remaining products to their local dealer or retailer for a full refund or replacement. 

FEED RECALL: Hubbard Feeds expands recall of medicated poultry feed for elevated calcium levels

Hubbard Feeds Inc. is expanding its recall of medicated poultry feeds to include three additional lots of Hubbard Life Homestead FASTGROW AM.0.0125 NAB/NAB MEDICATED because of elevated calcium levels that may be harmful to chickens and turkeys.
This voluntary recall is the result of identification of additional lot numbers through assays by the US Food and Drug Administration related to a previous recall of the product on July 2. The expanded recall applies to products with item number 34739-2 and lot numbers: B00578594, B00582621 and B00584526. Products were sold in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois through retail feed stores, packaged in 50-lb. bags.
No adverse events or complaints have been reported to date for the three additional lots. Chickens and turkeys exposed to these lots may exhibit decreased feed intake, decreased growth rate or death. If poultry producers observe animals that have consumed product from this particular lot number and have any of these symptoms, producers should contact their local veterinarian.
Poultry producers who have purchased Hubbard Life Homestead FASTGROW AM.0125 NAP/NAB MEDICATED with the lot numbers listed above should discontinue use of the product and return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Poultry producers with questions may contact Hubbard Feeds Inc., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT, at +1.507.388.9645.