The U.S. FDA is cautioning horse owners not to feed recalled Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with the date codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522, and 111622.
These alfalfa cubes were made by Manzanola Feeds of Manzanola, Colorado, and FDA has confirmed distribution to feed stores and co-ops in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. Further distribution may be possible, so it’s important to check the date code if you have this product.
FDA is aware of numerous horses in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas who showed neurologic symptoms, including muscle tremors that rapidly progressed to the whole body, weakness, decreased tongue tone, agitation, and inability to stand. These symptoms are consistent with botulism and many horses have been treated for suspected botulism. At least 45 of these horses have died or were euthanized due to declining health. At this time, it appears that Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes was the only common food source among all of the cases.
Necropsies of some of the horses are underway or pending. This is an ongoing investigation and FDA will share additional information as it becomes available. If you see these symptoms in your horse, seek immediate veterinary care. No human illnesses have been reported to date. This is an ongoing investigation and FDA will share additional information as it becomes available.
If you have Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with the date codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522, or 111622, or you can’t be sure of the date code of the products you have, do not feed them to your horses or any other animals. Throw them away in a secure container and place them in a covered trash can or dumpster so that no other animals can access them. Avoid handling the cubes directly and wear disposable gloves and a face mask while throwing the cubes away and cleaning any bins or containers where they were kept.
If you think your horse has become ill after eating contaminated food, call your veterinarian first. You can also report the illness to FDA through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. If possible, share the brand name and lot numbers of what your horse ate.
Click here to see the full FDA Alert concerning this recall.
