200 dead cows found in Wisconsin field

[riverwalker]

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

200 dead cows found in Wisconsin field

Associated Press

Last update: January 15, 2011 - 10:15


TOWN OF STOCKTON, Wis. - An investigation is under way after 200 dead cows were found in a field in the Town of Stockton.

The Portage County sheriff's office says the owner of the cattle has been working with a local veterinarian and it's believed the animals died from the IBR/BVD virus. The virus can cause respiratory and reproductive problem

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/local/113679204.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Neighboring farmers better be vaccinating, then...

Pretty amazing mortality rate for this virus, if true.

[Kali]

2. grown cattle don't generally die from those 2 infections

odd

edit to add: if this was written by a moran that calls all bovines "cows" and in fact they were aborted calves it would be a little more logical. Both diseases can cause abortion and even the modified live vaccines given at the wrong time can cause problems.

I'm betting these were not grown animals.

[kestrel91316]

3. 200 dead ALL AT ONCE???? If it is IBR or BVD, they really need to have a close look

at the strain to see if they have a more lethal mutant form of it.

Info on IBR from WI:
http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/jjp1/ansci_repro/lab/diseases_2002/IBR.html

Info on BVD from USDA APHIS:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergingissues/downloads/bvdinfosheet.pdf

BTW, the AP reporter didn't do even the most basic background reading. There is not a single IBR/BVD virus, lol. IBR is caused by a bovine herpesvirus. BVD is caused by a bovine pestivirus. Apples and oranges.

[femrap]

7. what is it with

'journalists?' More Dumfukistanis....I thought they were just here in Ohio.

[hlthe2b]

8. Infectious disease reporting is notoriously poor...

The majority of reporters use "virus" and "bacteria" synonymously. I once had a reporter tell me that they changed a reference to the Lyme disease causal organism, Borrelia burgdorferi being discussed, from 'spirochete' or 'bacterium' to virus, because it "sounded better."

Medical reporters are the exception nowadays and editors have no medical terminology or even basic science training. sigh.....

[bluedigger]

14. I'm not too disappointed.

I find it pretty easy to believe that DU has more experts on infectious animal diseases than the Star Tribune has on it's staff. Given the 24 hour news cycle that now exists, it is all about getting the story out. The facts can wait.:shrug:

[hlthe2b]

15. You have pretty low expectations....

Dissemination of really wrong information can feed frenzy and, in some cases public panic. Arguably some errors are mere technical issues, but others can have pretty significant consequences. I was fortunate to have grown up in a time when there was far more attention to detail and factual accuracy... Reporters were expected to check with their lead reporter or editor for science and medicine to check accuracy. That continued on network television reporting certainly, at least up to the point of the 24/7 cable "news" channels. I guess I got used to not cringing every time I heard anything slightly technical being reported, at least in print. :shrug:

[Enthusiast]

18. Well factual accuracy is out!

No sarcasm.

[crim son]

22. Low, because the poster had been paying attention..

Don't blame the intelligent consumer, puh-leeze!

[hlthe2b]

25. Excuse me?

what does your post even mean? How am I blaming the intelligent consumer? Please respond. :shrug:

[crim son]

31. Responded to your PM and am responding here, because I

did indeed misunderstand your comment and am sorry that I did so.

[hlthe2b]

33. re:

thank you. much appreciated. ;)

[crim son]

35. Well, now I'm in the process of responding to your second PM.

But I'll do it here: I thought you were chastising the "intelligent consumer" for merely having the low expectations and not thinking it through any further for the purpose of the thread... as in, such apathy is somehow responsible for the media's ineptitude. When you said that you were not uncomfortable with scientifically accurate reporting, I thought you were suggesting that the consumer was. My bad. There's been so much crappy news lately, and so much mind-boggling response to it, that I am seeing demons where they aren't.

[bluedigger]

57. Not really. Society has been disappointing me most of my life.

That idyllic news dissemination you remember has succumbed to technology and economics. Back in the day this story would have been in a local paper, and the AP would take several days to take it national. In the meantime, their army of reporters and editors would have time to research, interview, and analyze. Those workers no longer exist, and the profit motive requires immediate servicing to the waiting news consumers. I don't like the system, but that is usually how it works.

[russspeakeasy]

24. bluedigger nailed it

[hlthe2b]

29. Important thing is "getting the story out, the facts can wait..."

I'm curious. Did you feel this way last Saturday when CNN, NPR and other media outlets reported Congresswoman Giffords to have died?

[TexasProgresive]

67. Actually the facts can

F*ck themselves. They will never see the light of day.

[somone]

4. Cow Days?

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. IBR virus symptoms are not fatal, as a rule

So says my search efforts.

BR

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis is a viral infection of cattle caused by Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1). It is contagious between cattle, so contact between herds, or buying in infected cattle, are two very common routes by which herds become infected. The virus can also be spread by people, vehicles and machinery moving between farms.

When an animal contracts the virus, the symptoms are very variable, from very mild to very severe. This is because there are different strains of IBR virus. Some of the most common symptoms are as follows:
• Respiratory signs – e.g. Calf pneumonia
• Conjunctivitis – Runny, reddened eyes
• Abortion
• High fever
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Nasal discharge
• Infertility

Symptoms last from 7-14 days. During this time the animal is contagious to other animals in the herd. After this time the animal will mount an immune response and produce antibodies (seroconvert) against the virus, and the animal should recover. However, some recovered animals will then continue to carry the virus in nerve cells, without showing any symptoms. A period of stress or other disease can subsequently cause the virus to emerge again (recrudesce) in these animals, causing another bout of illness and shedding of the virus, infecting any susceptible herd mates.
http://www.westridgevets.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=42

So I checked for
Acute BVD Disease

The classic, acute form of BVD can be caused by either NCP or NCP-BVD viruses and is characterized by a fever of 104o-106oF, a yellow discharge from the nose and eyes, erosions of the muzzle and in the mouth, and diarrhea that may contain mucus and blood. The clinical picture can vary from animal to animal, especially as it relates to the presence of erosions and diarrhea. Diarrhea is usually present in every herd that has an outbreak of acute BVD, but diarrhea is not present in every animal that has acute BVD. Usually an antibody titer is readily detectable following the acute form of BVD caused by a CP-BVD virus. The percentage of the herd exhibiting clinical disease and dying can vary extremely; however, if secondary infections are controlled, most animals survive the acute disease. Acute BVD infections in the newborn calf may be more prevalent than is currently recognized because the disease is usually masked by secondary infections that cause diarrhea and/or pneumonia.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Cattle-Health--Identifying-BVD---Secondary-Infection-Symptoms/2009-05-26/Article.aspx?oid=498329&fid=VN-ANIMAL_HEALTH-BVD-ARTICLES


This is another dead animal story that basically says "we suspect something, but don't worry, people are not in danger, even tho we really do not know what killed 200 cattle".

200 cattle should have all died at once from the above described viruses.

this is getting weird.

[Exultant Democracy]

6. Are you suggesting that something is being hidden from us? Here is some wild speculation Mad Cow

I feel like a remember an ep of west wing where they had one positive mad cow test but they hide the truth for a few days while they got the confirmation test.

Personally I believe that our industrial cattle system has probably been hiding the truth about how much Mad cow there is for a while.

Link between Mad Cow and Alzheimer's http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0107-07.htm

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Alzheimer's disease mis-diagnosis seems common:

"Twenty percent or more of people clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, though, are found at autopsy not to have had Alzheimer's at all"

It seems symptoms of dementia in the elderly are now labeled Alzheimer's more easily.

dunno what to make of the report at the link, lots of speculation, some facts.

I do know I am happy with our freezer full of local organic beef, and that we took our pets off commercial pet food.
It is no secret that the "industrial cattle system" as you call it ( good term, that) is not healthy.

[Catbird]

51. Brain autopsy

You can't positively identify Alzheimer's without a brain autopsy, which is not recommended on someone who is still alive. My mother died of Alzheimer's type dementia, which was not determined until after her death. Since we don't have any really effective treatment for any of these kinds of dementia, it doesn't really matter.

[emilyg]

10. Thanks for link.

[Ellipsis]

13. This is within spittin' distance. Cows aren't falling from the sky.

It being handled by the humane society and lab results were sent to Madison.

They'll have an answer on this shortly.


There is a somewhat controversial quarry for gravel and sand not far from the farm. The water table is close to the surface which could play a roll. Doubt it... don't know... more likely dust.. might play a roll.

The local sheriff is a dem and a good guy.

There ain't no hanky panky goin' on I assure you.

[freshwest]

16. Thanks for the local view.

Perhaps being out the winter with all the temperature variations this year was involved in making them ill.

Or they'd been left alone for a while, as is frequently the case with beef cattle without a lot of supervision. Two weeks with that level of symptoms is a long time to go unnoticed in tight quarters.

These cattle would have shown a lot of signs of illness if kept in closer quarters and a veterinarian would have been there sooner.

There are many factors to take into account, not necessarily the farmer's fault. Since the humane society is checking it out and will determine that, which is good to prevent more of this.

I've seen instances of animals neglected if the owners fell ill themselves without reliable help to maintain their livestock, who tried to keep their herd in the best of health and comfort.

The entire business is sad, and I hope you get back with us on this since it's so close to your life.

[Ellipsis]

19. I'll do a drive by on my way south today.

The farmers around here are pretty conscientious, mainly dairy farms, with smaller family run operations still the norm., not to mention a high focus on organic farming as well. 200 head would be devastating for a family farm to lose. There is also a nationally ranked natural resource college within a few miles and more then a few professors live near by. So I'd guess there are lots of fingers in this pie.

[freshwest]

50. Yes, I've heard that Wisconsin does organic dairy and produce farming correctly.

The main threat to the health of people, animals, plants (soil) and water is always from under-regulated factory farms. Not that I think that any factory farm can be considered properly run by definition when production line is as bad as described. Organic labeling has had to be re-defined as well, to make sure we're not being fooled.

People can do with less beef, poultry and dairy than they are consuming from these agribusinesses. Although I've seen family dairies run very well, with respect for their animals. Most people have a romanticized view of what goes on in agribusiness.

Half or all of the diseases associated with farming is from factory farming methods. Most of that is hidden from the public, until there's an outbreak and then everyone acts as if it's time to re-invent the wheel. There is no need, proper tilth and animal husbandry is the answer. Not pouring more money into bad agricultural practices.

But I'm singing to the choir here, I know. I'm glad you have a good area to live in so close to nature yet with progressive people working to maintain a healthy, humane agricultural model.

[Ellipsis]

64. How about 8000 head? Pretty wild.

http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/40486007.html?page=1


We have good farms, bad farms, and big farms.

[freshwest]

73. The Swanson appear to have valid concerns, especially in view of the soil conditions.

The places I've seen that were large, but well run, didn't need manure pools; they had hundreds or in the case of the largest one I lived by, thousands of acres, no accumulations.

There was no need for that element of factory farming. I'm sorry to say that would fall in that category for me, although it looked nice enough. That's how streams and water tables get polluted.

Also, I've seen healthier looking stock than that. No doubt it is a large employer and makes a very good profit, and it clearly has all the equipment for a modern operation.

Where I saw successful, sustainable dairy operations, the cows foraged for the majority of their feed and the farms grew the hay themselves. Any manure from the milking barns was gathered and spread in fields that were rotated before grazing was allowed again.

Was this the farm with the dead cows? No matter if I don't quite approve of this operation, it would appear they have sufficient supervision to prevent an outbreak. Generally the cows are given some look over as they are getting milked.

Thanks for the links. I hope they are content to maintain their operation at the present size in order to not force other dairies in the area out of business. One thing I didn't see, was the total acreage of the Rosendale Farm. That would go a ways to see if there is sufficient pasture to keep the animals healthy.

But they don't actually seem to be going that route, for whatever reasons, climate or profitability. But on the other hand, 8,000 cows going in and out of a milking barn, possibly day and night, might make the manure pool and the inevitable disposal problems inevitable.

Unless the Swanson or others convince the DNR that they are big enough now. That would engender some of that 'anti-government' rage, when really it's other operations that would suffer.

Not to mention the cost to wildlife. In hard times, that seems to be completely forgotten.

[Ellipsis]

81. No. Just a large corporate farm where there was great concern close to where I grew up.

Actually the farm has a larger population then the town.

Just hard to fathom a farm of that size.

[wordpix]

82. hmmm---filthy cow disease- animal abuse factory, maybe?

[Ellipsis]

84. No. See #83

[eowyn_of_rohan]

38. This is Wisconsin where cows are USED to extreme temps in the winter

I just hope we get a reasonable answer...I don't understand how they can make statements like this: "local and national authorities insist that the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) infection which apparently killed the 200 cows in Stockton, Wisconsin, last week does not pose a threat to humans, horses or other animals."

:eyes:

[Ellipsis]

46. I'll poke my nose in one of the local taverns and see what the "boys" have to say.

Regardless Here's the local Tv stations URL's too see if they more forth coming after the evenin' news.


And it hasn't been that cold as of late.

http://www.waow.com/

http://www.wsaw.com/



Take care.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

55. Would be very interesting to sit in and listen!

I'll look forward to your report. Thank you for the links and good luck.

[lonestarnot]

68. Grapevine local communication. I love it!

[freshwest]

48. Thanks. Yes, I'm aware of that. And most animals are used to extremes.

But if they were confined to an area where their feet were in constant contact with mud, unable to move to drier ground or dry grass or ground underneath, or if their fodder was decaying, respiratory disease and other disease is inevitable.

[Ellipsis]

49. Actually that might be it.

I remember driving by that area once thinking about the poor conditions on one particular farm... it almost seemed like a weigh station for the cows not really a farm, seemed over populated. It was wet(during the summer there was standing water in the field) and they were left out in the open. It was a bit odd. I can't say for certainty if it's the same farm. I'll post tonight at some point.

[freshwest]

52. Thanks, and let us know what they say at the pub. The hired hands will know.

[Ellipsis]

63. It was the farm I was thinking about.

It is really more of a weigh station... cattle trailers and semis... No love of beast. Can't confirm it but I'd bet you're right on the money with the diagnosis.

[freshwest]

75. Well, I'm no expert. It's just what I've seen over the years. I don't live in the country anymore.

And I wasn't the owner, either. I lived in open, warm, dry-land country with a lot of land available. I don't know how crowded Wisconsin is, or what pressures are being brought to bear on rural communities there.

The most humane operations I saw were run by Dutch immigrants. The entire family was involved, lived right there with the cows. Seemed like a good way of life.

Although there were even problems in that, but not mistreating the animals or unhealthy conditions. The price of milk was low; and sometimes it was not worth the cost of giving the calves their supplements and the many preventative vaccinations to get them off to a good start and old enough to sell.

The pasteurization process covers many sins. Milk from a great dairy ends in the same tanker truck with that from dairies with low standards. That's why it's pasteurized, because of multiple sources, yet it changes some healthful components of the milk. I am also a believer in raw milk, so I hardly ever drink any at all.

It's all pretty complicated. I hope that other dairies in your area will not be put out of business by the costs of regulations from this if it comes from a large scale outfit. Farms, dairies, etc. are tough work, that's for sure. We need to support the best of them and work with those who are having trouble running their business.

[Ellipsis]

83. Report from the Tavern.

Given it's German and Polish heritage there is a saying in Wisconsin that you can't drive 5 miles in any direction out in the country and not hit a bar. Well in this case there's a bar within a quarter mile of this so called farm.

I think the bar has been around longer then the farm frankly. It goes back at least a 100 years. This is the kind of place where everybody knows everybody. People are recognized by their first name and their beverage is on the bar in front of them before they ask for it. They feed the neighborhood, especially the older folks and kids almost for free and make their money off of alcohol and every conceivable form of low profile gambling imaginable, from shake of the day and Packer pools to when the froze-in ice shanty, on the near by lake will fall through the ice. When you walk in all the heads turn and they know your not from the neighborhood. So it's best to order a beverage and food, pretend to watch the TV and be a fly on the wall.

Like I said before it's NOT a dairy farm nor a beef farm. It's mainly just a bunch of pole buildings with equipment parked and strewn everywhere. It was dismal. Last summer the cows were packed in tight with mud and open water.

I caught one conversation between an older matriarch and the bartender owner/and burgermaker after the food rush. (Tonight's special was dollar burgers and home made fries for 2 bucks, more then I could eat, and a cup of tasty pea soup) The woman asked about what he thought about the farm next door. The bartender replied "well it's too bad but they weren't very humane and the humane society was on the farm and everything" ...which kinda sums it up.

The cows were never vaccinated, they didn't even have a wind break they were just there in the middle of a field. It was negligence.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

54. Didn't mean to be a smart aleck

sorry if I sounded so.

[freshwest]

74. I appreciate that, we're good. Cool name, too.

I'm trying to get the hang of it here, only started posting this year.

:hi:

:dem:

[Jed28]

26. Is there "fracking" involved in that quarry operation?

[Ellipsis]

36. Highly doubtful. It's an outwash plain from the last glacier.... uniform aggregates = convenience

The quarries right on top of the terminal moraine. The controversy stems from encroachment on a Standing Rock state park.

[Kali]

30. so

do you know if these were grown, adult animals?

[Ellipsis]

39. I'll try to find out... I would guess so,

Read you posts in the lounge, quite often by the way.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

34. Oh- I'm SURE we'll get the truth from the UW Madison

like a couple weeks ago, when 5,000 red-winged blackbirds were found dead in Arkansas. University of Wisconsin statement was that they died from multiple blunt force trauma. Like WHAT? They died perhaps from trauma caused by hitting the ground at high speed? :wtf:

[Ellipsis]

37. Oh bite me... It's a damn good univesity.

How soon they forget the Pail and shovel party.


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sGaQ-mZnlw8/SqGd5rrUI4I/AAAAAAAAAaU/8ykzjrpnxGc/s400/flamingos+on+bascom.jpg

[eowyn_of_rohan]

40. Oh, I know it is. I am a 3rd generation alumnus

And the UW Veterinary Hospital is one of the best - they saved my dog's life. I just thought that was a very unscholarly explanation, and I wonder if they were allowed to speak freely or not? :tinfoilhat: Go Bucky.

on edit - actually I am an alumna, my Dad is an alumnus, his mother was an alumna

[Ellipsis]

43. Cool.

I can't imagine they would compromise themselves, on the departmental level anyway... but WARF does rule the roost... if you know what I mean.


By the way, Paul Soglin filed to run for mayor again.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

53. I think I need to learn more about WARF...

doesn't sound good. I was relieved to find out our UW would be researching the death of those birds, then stunned by the lack of information they came up with. I sure hope Paul Soglin can win this one!!

[freshwest]

76. Ah! Those pix!

:rofl:

[arikara]

70. Of course they have been hiding mad cow

My understanding of the way they control it is if the animal can't walk in to the slaughter house it isn't used for human consumption. However if the unfortunate creature can stagger in, thats a different kettle of fish. Profits come first, they don't even test for it. In fact they discourage farmers from testing and advertising that their cattle have been tested.

[mindwalker_i]

11. A friendly meat-up gone horribly wrong...

[freshwest]

77. You're familiar with those cow jokes, I take it...

[musette_sf]

12. oh dear, not good at all

and thank the Goddess for the organic market less than a mile from my house.

[pdefalla]

17. Any Military Installations in the area?........nt

[Ellipsis]

20. No.... A lot of potato farmers.. does that count?

There is a cannery just to the west that recycles it's water usage, and an open gravel quarry just to the south... and given the areas sandy soil lots and lots and lots of irrigation, not to mention the plethora of "bathtub madonnas".

Water quality and or dust given the proximity of the quarry could potentially be a contributory factor... that's just my opinion, no one else's.

[Kali]

32. tops are poisonous, if I recall

but you would think locals/vet would suspect poisoning pretty fast
wonder how long this took - details in that article were pretty sorry excuse for information

[Ellipsis]

41. The potato farms are giant operations.

Millions just to break some farms out in the spring. Miles and miles of sand just directly west. Irrigation has increased dramatically in the last few years in some areas to the point of dropping water tables levels some four feet, which can be a real drag on shallow lakes.

Also lots of cranberry bogs in the area.

[anotherwatcher]

61. potatoes?

Potato farming is a highly toxic business.
Chemicals are probably migrating through the sand. Whether or not that is what killed the cows is another matter.

[Ellipsis]

65. Don't really know. They are. It' didn't.

[Kolesar]

44. Solanine?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine#Solanine_in_potatoes

[glinda]

45. Or grains from Monsanto seeds???? I am leaning towards Monsanto killing animals right now.

[midnight]

60. I was thinking Monsanto too......

[greiner3]

21. Could it be Brett;

Getting back at his old team after the fans gave him up?

[kanrok]

28. Could just be

Packer fans sacrificing cows to the NFL gods.

They are rather serious about their team up there.

[TalkingDog]

23. It was the fireworks. n/t

[uppityperson]

59. or a lightening strike. nt

[harun]

62. That's what I was waiting for...

Fireworks scared them in to blah blah blah....

[conspirator]

27. Was there any mutilated cows? n/t

[kurtzapril4]

42. even more good news on the cattle front::

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213819.php

[glinda]

47. Yikes. Thanks for posting that.

[dixiegrrrrl]

56. So all those guys dragging downer cows into the slaughter house

may be racking up bad karma?

[glinda]

69. No. Our pets receive the karma when they put downed animal meat in their pet-food.

[dixiegrrrrl]

71. Which is why I cook our own food for the dog.

Ever since the melamine issue, but now sounds like even more reasons to not buy commercial food.
Which makes sense. I don't eat "mystery meals" so why should my pets?

[glinda]

72. If it is as cheap as Evo let me know. We have four dogs. Email me with recipe.

[dixiegrrrrl]

80. dozens of recipes via google + cook your own pet food.

My secret is a teaspoon of Brewer's yeast in each meal, it comes as a powder, cats and dogs both like it.
All the vitamins they need are in there.
And I make sure to use enough fat in their diet, plus a fiber capsule ( opened and sprinkled on food )
if their poops get runny.

I am talking dog food,not cat. Cats need taurine, but vet supply catalogs have all sorts of vitamins and stuff if you need it. ( we use Foster and Smith).

[freshwest]

78. You got that right!!

[Blandocyte]

58. Scary. Who knows what diseases carnivores are chompin' on

I'm stickin' to chicken more and more these days and forgoing the beef.

May do veg someday.

[WhiteTara]

66. chicken houses aren't pretty either. n/t

[freshwest]

79. Yup, I go for long spells not eating any meat. Or eggs.