150 Canadian cattle found dead

PONOKA, Alberta, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- More than 150 cattle at a bankrupt central Alberta farm have been found dead because of incorrect feeding, the Edmonton Sun reported Monday.

Owing $38.7 million to secured creditors, Bonnett Farms was forced into court-ordered receivership Wednesday, and owner Rick Bonnett said at the time all the animals were healthy.

Greg Stevens, a senior vice-president of the receivers, Deloitte and Touche, said the Bonnetts were offered the chance to operate the feedlot while it was being liquidated, but they refused.

"As they were walking out, we asked them to verify the feed sheets from the previous couple of days," Stevens said." And they verified, 'Yes, what's on the feed sheets is correct.'"

Stevens said a veterinarian concluded the cattle died of "overload," caused by feeding them too rich a mixture of barley, causing their stomachs to become fatally bloated.