The Beutler & Son Rodeo Company in Canute, Oklahoma, has lost over 40 horses it used for rodeo cattle after their horses were mistakenly fed feed containing monensin.

Sodium monensin, also known by the brand name Rumensin, is a feed ingredient commonly added to the diets of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. It is known to increase milk production, control ketosis, reduce bloat, control coccidiosis and improve feed efficiency and reproductive performance.

If dogs, pigs or horses ingest monensin, it can be fatal. In horses, monensin can cause myocardial necrosis, heart failure and death. There is no cure for monensin poisoning, and veterinarians can only provide palliative care to horses that ingest it. Horses that survive a dose of monensin will most likely suffer from heart damage for the rest of their lives.

Symptoms of monensin poisoning include colic, stiffness, sweating, incoordination, weakness, double or triple heart rate, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and excessive urination.

Beutler & Son Rodeo Company

Beutler & Son has been in business since 1929 and is now in its fifth generation. They breed and supply bareback and saddled broncos and rodeo bulls for rodeo competitions throughout the United States. Examples of these rodeos include Cheyenne Frontier Days, the National Western Stock Show, the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.

The family owned a horse named Descent, who was named Bucking Horse of the Year a record six times. In addition, three of Beutler & Son’s horses were named PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year, two horses were named Top Saddle Broncs of the NFR, and one of their horses was named PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and Top Bareback Horse of the NFR.

Details of the accidental monensin poisoning are currently scarce, but the family expects there will be more deaths from the feed. Social media posts say the monensin ingestion occurred on August 25. Veterinarians are caring for the sick horses and investigations are underway to determine how the mistake occurred and whether anyone is to blame.

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or (email protected).