This come across anyone else’s radar yet? This Equine hospital recently shared this on Facebook about it:
1 Like
I hate these kind of posts because they cause pandemonium. There isn’t enough info to do anything but cause panic.
I hope they update it soon to say where these cubes were baled or processed so it’s actually helpful to people who may be at risk. “Colorado” is not enough info.
6 Likes
Agreed… calling my feed store now to see where my pellets come from.
I do too. That’s how it got on my radar was someone looking for alternatives.
Most people use Standlee around here which is grown in Idaho according to their website.
That’s frustrating for you.
I don’t blame people for feeling scared, but surely the vet clinic could have done more than just say “stop feeding hay cubes.” Botulism is very serious but also needs very specific conditions. There’s a bad batch of something floating around out there but that doesn’t mean we need to trash everything immediately without knowing more. Half the country is in a drought!
4 Likes
I offered a year old bag of cubes I had; best I could do on that one!
2 Likes
In trolling the comments, I saw Hagyard put out a MUCH more professional post:
https://m.facebook.com/108942262476613/posts/5682859415084842/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f&tn=R-R
TLDR: it’s suspected they are Top of the Rockies brand hay cubes; presumed to be the cause of deaths in TX and LA. They include a photo of hay cubes visibly contaminated with a carcass.
Botulism is very deadly, but also very isolated in the sense that when you have an “outbreak,” they will all share the same source.
5 Likes
Thank you for this. Because I am skilled in worrying, I checked my brand. The brand is Summit/Canadian hay. Hope this is helpful to someone.
Much more helpful!! Thank you for this. My friend has a friend that boards at a different barn in the area and uses this brand. Thanks again for digging!
Where did you find it was Top of the Rockies that was suspected? I’m just reading through it more thoroughly now.
I feel like the original Hagyard post said it and they edited it out. But in the comments many people are saying that it was that brand.
I mean, this can happen with any hay or grain product. If an animal or decaying matter gets baled or harvested and the perfect anaerobic conditions develop, there is a risk of botulism.
4 Likes
Adding: I’m noticing sources now are emphasizing they were alfalfa cubes. The brand is still just speculation, but I’d personally say where there is smoke there is fire— people are probably right about the brand and they just don’t want to get in legal trouble at this time.
But hopefully this puts anyone’s mind at ease with other types of hay cubes (Timothy, orchard, etc).
1 Like
Many years ago I bought that brand of alfalfa cubes. This was pre TSC and pre Standlee in my area. I haven’t checked their web page out but I thought they only manufactured alfalfa cubes. But I might be assuming that because alfalfa cubes were the only type the feed store sold.
Unfortunately, the panic seems to be happening already. I’ve ready about 4-5 posts so far warning people to dispose of all alfalfa cubes and pellets and to feed alternated cubes/pellets or even hay instead at the advice of vets (I suspect this wasn’t the actual advice). Or a comment saying this entire year’s alfalfa crop is tainted in all alfalfa should be disposed of.
I’ll continue to feed my alfalfa cubes and pellets (which don’t appear to come from Colorado) unless specific evidence tells me not to. That’s one of the main hay sources for my senior so we do what we need to do. But, I’m curious how many more posts will be up on social media tomorrow.
1 Like
Wow. That is crazy. Does the person saying this not realize that alfalfa is grown all over the place and it would be next to impossible for the entire years crop to be tainted?
So much drama.
Edit to fix bad spelling error. Grown and Groan are not the same thing.
6 Likes
Some of the updated posts are saying cubes from Colorado. I am wondering if it is one batch affected and others are fine.
1 Like
Botulism is a persnickety bacteria. It encapsulates itself in a spore that can survive a lot of conditions. But the spores themselves don’t cause illness.
When the conditions are just right, the spores will begin growing and reproducing and produce the toxin. It has to be little to no oxygen, warm, moist, higher pH for that to happen- rotting carcasses buried deep in hay bales are great for that.
But the toxin itself, like the bacteria, is pretty sensitive to conditions. Just being in sunlight and oxygen for several days will render it harmless. So will boiling it for an extended period of time. Something like a hay cube can keep it viable because they prevent a lot of oxygen from getting to it.
While I wouldn’t want to chance it with botulism, it’s not a toxin that’s going to last in the processing plant for a long time. Certain batches will be affected, but it is easier to get under control than some other pathogens.
9 Likes
if that’s the same comment I saw, that person was…out there, claiming ALL alfalfa in the US has been tainted by fertilizer from China. Never mind that not all alfalfa is fertilized, and not all fertilizer comes from overseas 
4 Likes
I saw a couple different comments, but that was the more extreme one. But, I just roll my eyes. Locally, I do see people commenting that they’re changing over from alfalfa cubes to timothy pellets because they’re safer. Um. Ok. Whatever you want. You do you. I just wish we wouldn’t see the comments that say “vets say to stop feeding alfalfa cubes immediately.” Chances are this impacts a small number of bags/batches.
2 Likes
From my email from my vet this AM, the brand hasn’t been released and it’s not 100% confirmed that it’s botulism.
She said don’t change anything or stress until more info has been released and a friendly reminder to make sure all vaccines are up to date.
5 Likes
