As we reported in June, thousands of cattle in Kansas died due to heat stress. Reuters is now reporting that the carcasses were buried in landfills and unlined graves.
This is not the typical manner in which carcasses are disposed of. Normally, the dead cows would be converted into pet food and fertilizers products. However, due to the amount, the state and cattle feeders had to take emergency measures. Some are now calling for changes to Kansas’s meat industry.
The cattle died due to a combination of factors: winds disappeared and temperatures were above 100 degrees over the weekend, humidity spiked, and because it got so hot so early, some of the cattle had not fully shed their winter coats. At least 2,117 cattle died.
Related:
Extreme heat takes a toll on cattle country
Kansas Livestock Association addresses the extreme heat and cattle deaths
Perfect storm of weather conditions caused the massive cattle deaths in Southwest Kansas
Triple-digit heat is having dire impacts on agriculture, from corn to cattle
Story via Tom Polansek with Reuters
