Specific lots of product contain high levels of copper, could harm sheep

Before you ask, yes, people domesticate lambs and sheep and keep them as pets. Apparently, they make good pets because they are a gentle and respond well to human contact. Lambs raised on a bottle make the best pets because they naturally trust people and are not afraid to be near people. When you bottle feed a lamb, it bonds to you and thinks you are its mother. When such a bond is created I imagine it would be difficult, if not impossible to look at another lamb chop quite the same way again. One that depressing note, I give you the recall published today on the FDA website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 28, 2012 – ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. (“Alliance Nutrition”) is recalling 50-pound bags of MoorMan’s® ShowTec® 18 Elite Lamb DC, product number 80939MPS, because the product has high levels of copper. There are three lot numbers involved in this recall: BF23512, BF27812, and BF29312. These were distributed between Aug. 24, 2012, and Nov. 21, 2012. The product could have been purchased directly from Alliance Nutrition or through distributors.

Copper toxicity in sheep may lead to lethargy, anemia, constant teeth grinding, extreme thirst, jaundice, dark brown or red urine, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, weakness, recumbency and/or death.

The recalled sheep feed was shipped to distributors and customers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The high copper levels were discovered as a result of an investigation stemming from a report of two sheep deaths. The lot number, BF23512, BF27812, or BF29312, can be found at the bottom of the label. Customers who have purchased the recalled feed may return it to their distributor or directly to Alliance Nutrition for a full refund. Please direct any customer inquiries to 260-824-0079 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday.