The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is investigating reports of horse illness and death in Southern Utah and surrounding areas, according to a November 7 report by Gephardt Daily.
Officials received reports of several horses becoming sick and three horses dying on a single farm. Additional reports of impacted horses in Southern Utah, Nevada, and Arizona were received starting Nov. 2.
Laub’s Feeding and Cubing has issued a voluntary recall for alfalfa hay cubes that were sold starting Oct. 3. UDAF inspectors have placed a hold order on the sale of the cubes and are collecting samples for analysis at a U.S. Food and Drug Administration laboratory.
UDAF State Veterinarian Amanda Price stated that while the investigation is active, the cause and source of the recent horse deaths cannot be officially confirmed without test results. Final test results are expected within the month.
Out of an abundance of caution, officials recommend that horse owners who purchased hay cubes from Laub’s Feeding and Cubing after Oct. 3 do not use the feed.
Horse owners should immediately contact a local veterinarian if a horse exhibits neurologic signs, which may include colic, depression, or incoordination.
