The cause of death of 41 cattle in southern Saskatchewan last summer cannot be conclusively proven, says the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Two different opinions emerged after the July 2008 deaths in Old Man on His Back pasture owned by Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
One veterinarian said lightning was the cause, while another said it was dehydration.
Last week the Saskatchewan SPCA said pathologists could not determine the cause of death because the carcasses were too badly decomposed by the time they were examined.
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“The evidence could not prove conclusively the cause of the deaths and therefore prosecution was not warranted,” said the SPCA.
The investigation included an examination of data from Strike Net, a lightning tracking system.
“The Strike Net data stated that there were no lightning strikes within five miles of the centre of the pasture from the time the cattle were put into the pasture until they were discovered,” said the statement. “The Strike Net data has a 95 percent accuracy.”
Lyle Saigeon, NCC’s Saskatchewan vice-president, said NCC has supported the lightning theory because it came from the first veterinarian on the scene.
“We thought he was in the best position (to declare a cause),” he said.
NCC co-operated with the SPCA during the investigation and was already following recommendations made, except for one that suggested an alarm on the watering system.
Saigeon said a full-time employee lives on site and the watering system for the cattle runs through the well for the house.
“If the system malfunctioned you’d know immediately before you saw any water problems at the troughs,” he said.
The SPCA recommends all livestock producers check mechanical watering systems daily, introduce cattle to the water source as soon as they are taken to a new pasture, and check cattle daily when they rely on mechanical watering.
Saigeon said the Old Man on His Back pasture is at capacity this year. Nine patrons have 210 head on the pasture.
All were asked to insure their cattle before they put them in the pasture. Saigeon said no one balked at the new policy.
“All our patrons were willing to do it,” he said. “Most did have it already.”
He said a meeting with patrons prior to the grazing season found no concerns. No one pulled cattle out and one asked to put more in. The dead cattle belonged to two different patrons.
“We think things are resolved on all fronts with all parties.
