Ad-Express and Daily Iowegian, Centerville, IA

Local News

Related Photos

Share your thoughts!

The Daily Iowegian welcomes your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
December 22, 2006

Farmer said tests prove sulphur feed poisoning

By Dan Ehl - Managing editor

Bob Ritter of Cincinnati said both an autopsy on one of his calves and testing of feed samples came up positive for a very high level of sulphur.

Two weeks ago, Ritter had been trying to figure out why a half dozen of his calves died in a two-week period. He thought at the time that the culprit could have been a gluten feed mixture he had been using.

The mysterious illness also killed a calf belonging to his brother, Rex. That calf had been on a gluten feed.

The culprit, he says, has been proven to be sulphur poisoning from the feed. Ritter said he wanted other area farmers to know that antibiotics will be of no help if they are treating their cattle for illnesses like shipping fever, when in fact it could be sulphur poisoning.

Sulfuric acid is used in the process to make ethanol and a by-product is corn gluten and what is called distilled grain. They are used as livestock feed.

Ritter said his sick calves became lethargic and appeared to be in a daze, but some would fight when he tried doctoring them. Some of his other calves had shoved their heads against fences until they hung themselves or dropped.

The poisoning is known as polioencephalomalacia.

This disease affects the nervous system. Symptoms include blindness, difficulty walking, muscle tremors, convulsions and ultimately death.

Thiamine is given to treat the poisoning, which Ritter has been giving his sick calves. He said thiamine is also added to gluten to counter the sulphur content.

Two other area farmers, said Ritter, each lost two calves and were feeding the same batch of feed.

Text Only
Local News
Featured Ads
Poll

This week the Iowegian wants readers to think about the recent decision by the Centerville Municipal Waterworks Board of Directors to increase the fee for late payment of water bills. In a story published in Wednesday's Ad Express, board members announced a 10 percent late fee after two days late, a $50 red tag fee for accounts unpaid after seven days late and a $25 shut off fee, water service terminated after two weeks late. The board said the decision to increase the fees associated with late payment is to encourage customers to pay their bills on time. So, the question this week is, "Are these fees too much to ask for?"

A. Yes, they are.
B. No, they are not.
C. I'm not affected so I don't care.
     View Results
Obituaries
Iowegian on Facebook
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com