Adulterated Feed
Each state has regulations about livestock feed and contamination based on regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) such as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Feed that is contaminated by chemicals, bacteria and other substances is harmful for livestock and can present serious financial implications for farmers and ranchers. Cattle that are affected by the adulterated feed can have serious illnesses that often render them unusable. Feed is considered "adulterated" if it tests positive for poisonous substances such as aflatoxin, fluorine, chlorine, sulfur materials and feed that is raw or unprocessed. Certain types of pesticides, food coloring and feed that have been stored in filthy conditions will also be considered adulterated and not fit for livestock.
Contaminated Livestock Feed Can Cause Illness
Those who sell adulterated feed to farms can incur penalties and fines. In 2009, adulterated feed was seized in Kentucky. The FDA issues a statement that said they will "not tolerate a company's failure to adequately control filth in its facility." Contaminated livestock feed can result in some of the following animal illnesses:
Acidosis
This is a condition that cattle develop when there is an imbalance of lactic acid in their stomachs. This imbalance is caused by diet. An imbalanced diet can occur when livestock consume too many carbohydrates, not enough fiber and low pH levels.
Improper Nutrition
Feed that has materials such as mycotoxin, aflatoxin and zearalanone in it can severely harm livestock. These types of substances are commonly found in corn and can be deadly when fed to livestock. For farmers, this can kill profits. Even impurities in the feed that are undetectable by eye can seriously maim cows and other livestock. A contaminated cow can also mean contaminated milk or a lack of production. The best way to secure yourself against this type of contaminated feed is to enter into written contracts with feed distributors so that you won't suffer the financial consequences.
Mastitis
This is a cattle condition that causes utter inflammation. The mastitis is caused by bacteria that get into the cows' feed. The infections that result from this type of disease can stunt the growth of cattle as well as stop them from producing milk. Mastitis has also been known to cause reproductive problems. Around 99 percent of all cases are infectious, and can severely injure the cows.
BVD
BVD stands for "Bovine Viral Diarrhea" and it is a virus that costs those in the agricultural industry around $2 billion each year. This is one of the most costly types of livestock diseases because of its severity. There may be no symptoms, but BVD's effects can be seen in cattle birth defects and weak immune systems. It is statistically proven that cows with BVD grow at a lesser rate than cows that do not have the viral disease.
Did You Suffer Economic Damages? Contact Domina Law Group!
Domina Law Group has extensive experience in agricultural investigating. These investigations often result in farmers and ranchers regaining their losses caused by adulterated feed and other related factors. Production losses can often seem difficult to determine and pin back to a particular cause such as bad feed, but our firm knows the experts to call on. We have recovered millions of dollars for those in the agricultural industry and may be able to help you as well. If you have noticed a steady drop in your production recently, then contaminated feed may be to blame.
If you want to begin the process of recovering your losses, contact our firm today to learn more!
