RECALL: Western Feed voluntarily recalling Kountry Buffet animal feed

Western Feed LLC is voluntarily recalling two lots of its Kountry Buffet 14 percent feed because it may contain monensin sodium, which is potentially fatal for horses, according to reports.
Monensin sodium is a medication used for some livestock and poultry, but it can be fatal to horses if fed at sufficiently high levels. Western Feed has received a report of some horses that died from eating the feed, said the company.
The recalled lot numbers are M718430 and M720280. The feed is packaged in 50-pound bags with the Payback logo. It was distributed Dec. 2 to Dec. 15, 2011, to retailers in Nebraska and Wyoming.

US may resume horse slaughter

Prior to the 2007 ban, 100,000 horses representing the surplus population were processed in the U.S. each year.

An in-depth review in a recent edition of the Wall Street Journal documents the effect of the ban on U.S. slaughtered horses introduced four years ago. A meeting entitled “Summit of the Horse” aims at resuming slaughter of horses in part to dispose of the old, lame and surplus animals that are either shipped to Mexico or live an unhappy life in the U.S.
Animal-rights activists wish to exacerbate the situation by banning the export of up to 60,000 horses annually. Prior to the 2007 ban, 100,000 horses representing the surplus population were processed in the U.S. each year. The American Humane Association, noted for its pragmatism and even-handed approach to welfare of all animals including livestock and pets, has agreed to develop science-based guidelines for handling and processing horses. The National Conference of State Legislatures has adopted a resolution requesting Congress to support horse processing and to rescind the 2007 ban.
An additional problem relating to horses is the accumulation of thousands of feral mustangs which are culled each year to reduce herds to manageable levels.
Costs for management and subsistence have risen to over $37 million annually to temporary hold 40,000 horses in corrals and pasture. According to the Bureau of Land Management, slaughter is not an acceptable option.

Kemin expands into veterinary market

Kemin Industries Inc. has expanded into the veterinary market with the launch of a new division, Kemin Vet Innovations, set to provide products, solutions and services for the veterinary community serving the livestock, poultry, equine and companion animal markets worldwide.
The division will be led by Andrew Yersin, former director of research and development for Kemin AgriFoods North America. “This is an exciting addition to Kemin’s growing global presence,” said Yersin. “We look forward to expanding our product offerings across regions and supporting the veterinary market with innovative, molecular solutions.
Kemin Vet Innovations will be based at Kemin’s corporate headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa and will have additional representation in the Middle East, China, Mexico, India and Asia Pacific.

Estimated 100,000 horses are either abandoned or unwanted

The Journal of Animal Science has published a review article on the magnitude of the problem of unwanted horses in the U.S. The article* authored by Katie Holcomb and colleagues at the School of Veterinary Medicine University of California at Davis estimated that 100,000 horses are either abandoned or unwanted each year.
The capacity of the 326 registered nonprofit equine rescue organizations is 13,400 or approximately 14% of the annual requirement. The problems necessitating relocation of unwanted horses concern health and age since 50% of the relinquished animals show illness, injury, lameness or suboptimal body condition and their median age is 12 years.
The statistics relating to disposal of horses assembled in the JAS article illustrate the Law of Unintended Consequences. HSUS and kindred organizations have pressed for closure of horse abattoirs, precipitating the current problem that will intensify in magnitude and severity unless domestic slaughter facilities are available.
* J.Anim. Sci [2010]88:4142-4150

Nutrena creates online horse resource

Cargill Inc.’sNutrena brand has launched The Feed Room, a blog offering information for horse enthusiasts. The blog includes topics such as horse feed, feeding tips, digestive health, weight control for horses, training tips and tricks and industry events.
Experts from Nutrena and the industry will contribute to the blog and respond to questions, with new posts weekly. Visitors can view videos, leave comments, ask questions and subscribe to receive updates.