DNR discovers animal parts spread across fields in Pottawattamie County

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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating complaints of animal body parts being spread over 160 acres in southwest Iowa. According to a release from the DNR, its staff responded Monday to six complaints against Feedlot Service Co., a small cattle feedlot near Neola in Pottawattamie County. The owner of the company stockpiles and land-applies paunch manure, or the partially digested stomach contents of slaughtered animals. The DNR found paunch manure on the site, but staff members also found hides, tails, hooves, bellies, hearts and other parts on the two fields. While the property owner has a license from the Iowa Department of Agriculture to apply paunch manure, that does not include dead animal parts, officials with the DNR said in the release. According to the DNR, its staff also collected water samples from nearby locations where runoff had entered Keg Creek. The DNR was working with the feedlot owner to remove the animal parts. It also directed the owner to stop runoff from reaching the creek.