Was Starvation Ultimately the Cause of Mass Cattle Deaths in Haenam?

Animal Hygiene Laboratory Confirms Disease Test Results as 'Negative'
Police Charge Owner in His 30s with Animal Welfare Act Violation
National Forensic Service Requested for Additional Examination

A scene of Jeonnam Haenam County conducting disinfection around the barn where a small group of cows died. Provided by Haenam County

The preliminary reason for the deaths of about 60 cows at a cattle shed in Haenam-gun, Jeonnam, has been identified as starvation.

According to Haenam-gun authorities on the 11th, the county collected samples from the dead cows on the 9th and requested the Jeonnam Animal Hygiene Laboratory to test for possible disease infection. The final results confirmed that all tests were negative.

Before these test results were released, there were various speculations, including the possibility of a virus.

However, a veterinarian who visited the site at the time observed that most of the dead cows appeared emaciated, raising the likelihood that neglect and resulting starvation were the main causes.

The owner of the cattle shed, a man in his 30s referred to as A, reportedly stated, "Due to personal circumstances, I neglected the management of the cattle shed."

With the official confirmation that disease was not the cause of the mass deaths, police plan to charge A with violating the Animal Welfare Act.

Authorities will also request further analysis from the National Forensic Service to investigate other possibilities, such as poisoning.

Meanwhile, the incident came to light on the 9th when a resident reported to the police that cows were found dead at a cattle shed in Songji-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeonnam.

At the time, 63 out of 67 cows were found dead inside the shed, prompting Haenam-gun and related agencies to launch a joint investigation.