Dead Cattle

[Horse]

On the news tonight they are showing the Bonnet feedlot at Ponoka and thier 150 dead animals, Iguess they handed it over to the bank and the recievers took over they say they changed the feed or something, I think the feeders were probably empty for a while and then got filledup O well one more black eye for the cattle business.

[grassfarmer]

Strange story - even stranger why would you bring it to the media's attention? trying to discredit the liquidators? Someone has obviously made a terrible mistake here and animals have sadly died as a result. It does no one any good to have this headlining the news bulletins.

[pmckenna]

Not that this is right by any means - a simple weekend feeding error (or weekday for that matter) is very unfortunate but it is possible at any time, with grain. It is unfortunate any time that bloat happens. I'll take myself out of the thread now because of my involvement with feeding management machines. That said, cold and information flow are key factors. It could take time for a new regime to put the rations out right. Perhaps banks may take this into account in their future decisions. I see where this isn't bodeing well for the industry, but bloat is not wanted but an occasional accident.

[rkaiser]

I'd say you hit it right on the head with the information flow pmckenna.
Receivership is not like a sale. How did the boys that handed over the task hand over the feeding list.
On the other hand, new folks could well have acted on the side of caution and backed down the rations for a day or two if uncertain.
What ever the case, a tradgey for the cattle out of some sort of human folly.

[cakadu]

I think you are right pmckenna - there is a strong message for banks here.

It is sad that so many cattle died and that it had to play out in the media. Those who shun "factory farming" are going to have a field day with this one.

[cakadu]

whoever took on the ownership should have also been responsible enough to get some advice on feeding the livestock. It should not be viewed as a black mark on the industry if the people in charge weren't conscientious enough to ensure that they knew how to look after the welfare of the animals. I understand there was no bedding and that alone can account for major problems in the kind of weather we have been having. Whenver a lending institution takes over any kind of operation containing animals, it should be incumbent upon them to have someone from AFAC or some other group available to provide advice on the care of the livestock at that facility.
Once again, animals have suffered due to the ignorance of humans.

[cakadu]

You're quite right emrald, it shouldn't be looked at as a black mark on the industry, but the more vocal groups that speak out against "factory farming" could use it to their advantage.

I agree that there should have been the proper protocols in place to ensure as smooth a transition as possible and so that human error could not occur.

In grassfarmer's "Rules" thread, we are being faced with more and more rules and I agree that producers should not have to keep bearing the brunt, cost and responsibility for all of these rules i.e. food safety etc. It's not that I don't think that we need them, its just that the producer should not have to keep bearing the costs of what others say they want.

My other concern when it comes to "rules" is that these small but very vocal groups are causing others to put in place rules that will in turn affect producers. Witness the McDonalds of the world jumping on the bandwagon for more humane slaughter of animals. I fear that many of the people pushing for these rules wouldn't eat at a McDonalds if their lives depended on it, yet we as producers have to deal with these insidious rules.

Don't get me wrong - I believe that animals should be treated as humanely as possible and we go out of our way to ensure that the animals are looked after well, as most producers do. I just don't like the fact that a very small segment is dictating how we should do things.

[intr3est]

What are the news reports out west like concerning this event. the article in the Toronto Sun today has made it sound like the Management team the receiver hired had followed Rick Bonnett's own feed program. The receiver was also quoted as saying Bonnett was given the opportunity to operate the feedlot while being liqudated. The receiver goes on to say that he asked again "for the health of the animals" and was scoffed at. Seems like there will be some finger pointing going on.

[Horse]

It sounds like the feed bunks must have been empty for a day or two . I havnt feed fats for a few yr now but with cattle on a 60% bly ration I cant see a desaster like this hapening with a few percent change in ration more like a major change like mabey if they were under 50% then jumped back to over 60% might do it.
Dont supose anyone would be mad enough at the bank to sabatoge the feed records on purpose do you.

[Horse]

Lots of speculation, but at one point Bohnets were feeding a lot of cows. Cows likely would not be on full feed so if someone decided to feed them a complete finishing ration it could have caused the wreck. I understand from a good source that there is a lot more to this than what has appeared in the media. Always the OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

[cakadu]

On the news tonight the number of animals that have perished is over 200 now as others had to be put down.

I wouldn't doubt that there is a lot more to the story than what we have heard and who knows what the truth actually is.

[cakadu]

It is unacceptable from a humane standpoint and certainly someone has to take responsibility. It gives special interest groups ammunition to fuel the fires of opposition to confined feeding operations on the grounds that animals are subject to neglect and suffering.