Beech Tree News Network

UPDATE: As of 5:24 p.m. missing cow has been found dead bringing total to 12 Cows DEAD.

UPDATE: As of 4:00 p.m. Sunday 3 more cows have died.  "I watched them fall over and die within 15 minutes of each other on Saturday afternoon," said Steve Ragland. 11 cows dead, 1 missing.

Eight dead cows on a local farm has the landowner wondering what has happened to his livestock.  Farmer Steve Ragland made the gruesome discovery on Wednesday, May 3, when he found eight dead cows within a 40-50-yard range of each other.  One cow is also missing.  Mr. Ragland's property is located on Russellville Road just a short distance from the US 231/KY 79 junction.  There were no apparent signs of trauma, struggling, or sickness. 

Mr. Ragland contacted the regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report what he considers to be the unusual death of his cattle.  Officials with the EPA , Air Pollution, and the state agriculture department were in Butler County on Friday to investigate.  It is believed that soil, water, and air samples may have been taken from the site.  Butler County Emergency Management Director Richard Henderson was also notified of the incident by state emergency management officials.  An autopsy is planned for at least one of the dead cows in an effort to determine the cause of death.   
Stay connected to Beech Tree News for the latest on this developing story.