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Mysterious Mass Cattle Deaths May Be Caused By Random Grass Mutation
Saturday, June 23 2012
A mysterious mass death of a herd of cattle has prompted a federal investigation in Central Texas.
Preliminary test results are blaming the deaths on the grass the cows were eating when they got sick.
The cows dropped dead several weeks ago on a ranch in Elgin, just east of Austin.
Jerry Abel opens the gate on his 80-acre ranch in Elgin, walking on a field of grass he's been using for cattle grazing and hay for 15 years.
"This is it, a lot of leaf, it's good, grass, tested high for protein – it should have been perfect," said Abel.
The grass is a genetically modified form of Bermuda known as Tifton 85 which has been growing here for 15 years, feeding Abel's 18 head of Corriente cattle. Corriente are used for team roping because of their small size and horns.
"When we opened that gate to that fresh grass, they were all very anxious to get to that," said Abel.
Three weeks ago, the cattle had just been turned out to enjoy the fresh grass, when something went terribly wrong.
"When our trainer first heard the bellowing, he thought our pregnant heifer may be having a calf or something," said Abel. "But when he got down here, virtually all of the steers and heifers were on the ground. Some were already dead, and the others were already in convulsions."
GM grass linked to cattle deaths in Texas *VIDEO*70
By xdrfox on Saturday, June 23, 2012 3:31
http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/2299/509/GM_grass_linked_to_cattle_deaths_in_Texas_VIDEO.html