Following reports that some horses have died as a result of consuming feed that may contain monensin sodium (Rumensin), Western Feed, LLC is recalling two lots of Kountry Buffet 14% feed.

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Monensin sodium is a medication approved for use in some livestock and poultry species, but can be fatal to horses if fed at sufficiently high levels.

The recalled feed, with the lot numbers M718430 and M720280, is packaged in 50 lb. bags bearing the Payback logo with the attached tag identifying the product as Kountry Buffet 14%.  The lot number  can be found towards the bottom of the tag, below the Feeding Directions.

At this time, no other Western Feed, LLC products and no other lots of Kountry Buffet 14% are involved.

This feed was distributed December 2 through 15, 2011 to retailers in Nebraska and Wyoming.

Initial testing by a private laboratory has indicated the presence of a potentially harmful level of monensin sodium (Rumensin) in these two lots. Further follow up testing is underway.

The symptoms of toxicity vary with the amount of monensin ingested by a horse. Trace amounts may cause a horse to go off his regular feed, show signs of colic and appear unwell for a few days. Larger amounts will cause a horse to show more serious symptoms within a few hours including colic, stiffness, sweating, a lack of coordination and the inability to stand.

Customers who purchased Kountry Buffet 14% from lot M718430 and M720280 should stop feeding the product immediately. For more information contact Western Feed LLC at 308-247-2601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT.