NEOLA, Iowa (AP) - Environmental officials are considering what actions to take against a southwestern Iowa feedlot after finding animal parts from slaughtered cattle strewn across two open fields.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said its staff discovered the gore Monday upon responding to several complaints against Feedlot Service Company, located about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) southeast of Neola.
DNR staff reported finding cattle hides, tails, hooves, bellies, hearts and other part spread as well as paunch manure - or the partially-digested stomach contents of slaughtered livestock - on two fields totaling about 160 acres (647,497 square meters).
Improper animal disposal can spread disease and endanger human and animal health.
The feedlot owner indicated he has a state license to apply paunch manure, which is the partially-digested stomach contents of slaughtered cattle, to his land. But the DNR said that would not include dead animal parts.
At the feedlot, investigators collected water samples for laboratory analysis in two places where paunch manure stockpile runoff entered nearby Keg Creek. The DNR is working with the feedlot owner to excavate and remove dead animal parts from both fields and directed him to stop runoff from reaching the creek.
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