New Lawsuit Alleges Horse Feed was Tainted

Two horse owners allege that feed manufacturer ADM knowingly sold and distributed horse-feed tainted with monensin.
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Two horse owners have filed a class-action lawsuit in Illinois alleging that feed manufacturer Archer Daniels Midland, Co. (ADM), knowingly sold and distributed horse-feed tainted with monensin.

Monensin is an ionophore antibiotic sometimes included in ruminant, swine, and poultry feed that can be toxic to horses. Robert J. MacKay, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal medicine at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, said horses that ingest monensin can show clinical signs of ionophore poisoning including poor appetite, refusal of the grain product, diarrhea, weakness, rapid heart rate, labored breathing, exercise intolerance, depression, wobbly gait, colic, sweating, recumbency, and sudden death within three days of ingesting it. Horses that survive can exhibit long-term heart issues, resulting in diminished performance potential.

In a complaint filed July 19 in the U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois by the law firm of Bailey & Glasser LLP, horse owners Beth Berarov, of Michigan, and Annelisa Bindra, of South Carolina, allege their animals and those in their care died or sustained diminished heart function as a result of ingesting ADM-manufactured horse feed. The complaint also alleges that ADM was aware of the risks of distributing horse feed that could be tainted with monensin by cross-contamination from machines used to make both horse and cattle feeds.

“To cut costs, ADM manufactures horse feed products at facilities that also produce cattle feed containing monensin,” the complaint claimed

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Written by:

Pat Raia is a veteran journalist who enjoys covering equine welfare, industry, and news. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Tennessee Walking Horse, Sonny.

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