Did the Cows Starve to Death?...Mass Deaths in Barn Cause Shock

Mass Death of 63 Hanwoo Cattle at a Haenam Livestock Farm
Most Carcasses Found Severely Emaciated
Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory to Determine Cause of Death
Possible Violation of Animal Protection Act Depending on Results

Sixty-three cows died in a mass mortality event at a cattle barn in Haenam County. The photo is a reference image unrelated to the article content. Provided by Jeonnam Province.

Dozens of cattle were found dead at a livestock farm in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province, prompting a police investigation.

According to Haenam County officials and the police on the 11th, a resident reported at around 1:30 p.m. on the 9th that a group of cattle (Hanwoo) had died en masse at a farm in Songji-myeon, Haenam, South Jeolla Province.

Immediately after the report, Haenam County conducted a joint on-site investigation with veterinarians and police, confirming that 63 out of a total of 67 cattle were dead.

Initially, an infectious disease was suspected, but the veterinarian's visual inspection revealed no particular abnormalities. However, it was found that the dead cattle were extremely emaciated, leading to speculation that they had not been fed for a long period.

The farm was reportedly located in a remote area, far from nearby villages. Therefore, it remains unclear exactly when the cattle died.

The farm owner, a man in his 30s, reportedly stated, "I was unable to manage the farm due to personal commitments."

Haenam County has collected the carcasses and requested an examination from the Jeonnam Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory to determine the exact cause of death. The results are expected in two to three days.

The police are reportedly considering whether to apply charges such as violation of the Animal Protection Act if it is confirmed that the deaths were due to starvation rather than disease or an epidemic.

A Haenam County official explained, "After receiving the initial report, we conducted an on-site investigation to assess the situation. Although we considered the possibility of an infectious disease, there were no abnormalities, and the dead cattle were very thin."

The official added, "When we asked other local livestock farmers, they said it is extremely rare for cattle to die of starvation. If that is the case, it means they were not fed for a very long time. The estimated financial loss to the farm is about 200 to 300 million won, but we do not know why management was so neglected. Once the cause of death is identified, we will take administrative action accordingly."