Champion Steer Dethroned for Banned Drug

Fox News ^ | 8/13/03 | Associated Press

[talleyman]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.

[talleyman]

Another tragic case of cattle gone bad.

[talleyman]

P.S. Mongo is now in rehab.

[Diddle E. Squat]

So how did they know the hoof was sore? 1 stomp is yes, 2 stomps is no?

[StatesEnemy]

Steeroids?

[Migraine]

Steeroids?

That's good. What I don't understand is why anyone would pay 5 figures for a sterile animal.

[ladtx]

Taking Mongo's place was a 1,315-pound steer owned by Brad Moritz of Buckingham. "Scooby" sold for $21,500 ...

Hmmm. That's $16.35/lb. Pretty expensive for hamburger.

[research99]

"Mongo just pawn in game of life"

[Sunshine Sister]

Hahahahahahahaha!

[robertpaulsen]

Well, Mongo ain't exactly a "who," he's more of a "what."

[deport]

The Grand Champion Steer at the Houston Rodeo in March sold for $400,000 which was down from the $600,000 price paid in 2002.

[vetvetdoug]

Banamine (flunixin meglumine) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that is used in cattle to decrease the pain of hoof rot or arthritic conditions or inflammatory conditions secondary to bacterial infections. I am surprised it is a banned item because it is not a growth enhancer and has no residual in food animals after four days (meaning one can slaughter the cow for food four days after injection).

OTOH it can make a lame animal appear sound for a short period of time invalidating the reason for picking the best looking and athletic animal of the show. If a veterinarian administered the drug he would be liable for the consequences. Unfortunately most cattlemen ignore veterinarians because they "know" more than the veterinarians. Cattlemen are responsible for many of the antibiotic resistant strains that are in the environment because of their reckless and ignorant use of antibiotics.

[prairie dog]

Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) said the decision was appropriate. "If we discover that someone is cheating, whether they be human beings or cows, they're going to pay a price," he said.

In keeping with Illinois' rich history of the state's last two Democrat governors (Koerner, Walker) ending up doing prison time, let us hope and pray that this statement comes back to bite him on the ass.

[prairie dog]

But Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke (D) said livestock may not be given any drugs on the fairgrounds without written permission from the state veterinarian. Even legal drugs must be out of competitors' systems by the time they are shown, and Banamine is banned entirely.

Gee Wally, it's almost enough to make one wonder if Mongo's owners are registered Republicans and Scooby's are loyal 'Rats.

[talleyman]

Steeroids?

Gro-o-o-o-o-o-o-oan! (We have a winner!)