FRESNO COUNTY (KMJ) — Numerous fatalities attributed to contaminated horse feed is what’s driving the operators of one valley farm to let everyone know how dangerous it can be.
More than 40 horses on one Fresno ranch could be at risk of death because of poisonous materials found in a specific batch of feed. Supplier Western Milling have put out a voluntary recall of lot number 5251 of their Western Blend horse feed, due to a possible contamination.
“It’s all so preventable”, says Andrew Yaffa. The Florida based attorney is now representing those whose livestock has been poisoned.
“There are policies, there are procedures, there are controls that are in place at these feed companies to avoid mistakes just like this. There are federal laws in place to avoid mistakes just like this”.
The horses were housed at Black Fence Farms, which is east of Fresno just outside the city limits.
Katie Flanigan is the operator there – she describes the horses death as “horrific”.
“They scream and call out to you in distress. They sweat, they’re just hopeless”.
She says having the contamination confirmed was the hardest news to receive.
“It was probably an 8 second voicemail. ‘We confirmed it, it was way over the limit. 112 grams per tonne’. I’d already done research, I knew what that meant”.
“Our worst fears were just confirmed with one 8 second voicemail”.
So far five horses have been lost due to the contamination, with more feared coming.
Hear the report as it aired on KMJ:
