Horses fall ill and die after eating alfalfa cubes: Utah recalls feed sold since 3 October, and reports of sick horses also come in from Nevada and Arizona

What happened

Horses have suddenly fallen ill and died in the south of the US state of Utah, and the authorities suspect their feed. On 6 November 2026 the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said it was investigating cases of illness and death in horses. Alfalfa hay cubes sold at feed stores in southern Utah are under suspicion. The producer has already announced a voluntary recall.

It started on one farm

It all began on one farm, where several horses fell ill at the same time. Three of them died. When several animals on the same premises fall ill together, vets first think about a shared source: water, pasture or feed. That is why the department began checking the feed the horses had been given.

New cases in three states

From 2 November the department began receiving reports of other affected horses. They came not only from southern Utah but also from the neighbouring states of Nevada and Arizona. That suggests the problem feed may have spread over a wide area through shops and resellers.

The cubes under suspicion

Laub's Feeding and Cubing has issued a voluntary recall of alfalfa hay cubes sold from 3 October. Department inspectors placed a hold order on the sale of the cubes and took samples at the facility. The samples have been sent to a laboratory of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What the state vet says

Utah's State Veterinarian, Amanda Price, is cautious. “We are actively investigating, but without test results, we are unable to officially confirm the cause and source of these recent horse deaths,” she said. Final results are expected within the month. Until then the feed is considered suspect, but not proven to be the cause.

Advice for owners

The department's advice is simple. Horse owners who bought alfalfa hay cubes from Laub's Feeding and Cubing after 3 October are advised not to use them. It is best not to throw the bags away: keep them with the receipt and labels so they can be handed in for testing or returned to the seller if needed.

Which signs are dangerous

The authorities warn about neurological signs. These include depression and dullness; colic, when a horse is in abdominal pain, restless, lies down and rolls; and incoordination, when it sways and places its feet unsteadily. If you see these signs, call your vet immediately.

Time is everything

The department is frank that treatment is difficult. But it may work if started quickly after the first signs appear. So do not wait until morning or hope it will pass on its own. A horse that has only just started to sway has a far better chance than one that can no longer get up.

What alfalfa cubes are

Alfalfa cubes are alfalfa hay that has been chopped and compressed into dense, fist-sized blocks. They are easy to store and transport, and give horses plenty of protein, calcium and fibre. They are often fed to older horses with poor teeth, soaked in water, and in regions where good hay is scarce.

Which causes are being checked

The cause is not yet known, and the department has not named one. In similar cases vets usually consider several explanations: bacterial toxins, poisonous plants that have accidentally got into the hay, feed additives that are dangerous to horses, and mould. Only laboratory tests will give a final answer.

Botulism in the past

For horse owners in the US the story brings back painful memories. In 2023 the deaths of dozens of horses were linked to the bacterium Clostridium botulinum found in alfalfa cubes. That does not mean the current cases have the same cause, but it shows how quickly a problem batch can affect many yards.

What botulism looks like

Botulism in horses causes progressive muscle weakness. The horse struggles to chew and swallow, its tongue becomes floppy, its eyelids droop and its muscles tremble. Then it lies down and cannot get up. If botulism antitoxin is given early, the chances of survival are much better, which is why vets mention it every time feed is suspected.

Why feed is sold in batches

Each bag of feed belongs to a particular batch with a production date. If a problem is found in a batch, that batch is recalled rather than all of the company's feed. That is why it matters to keep the labels and know when you bought the feed. In the Utah case the recall covers cubes sold from a specific date.

How to store feed

Even good-quality feed can spoil if stored badly. A few simple rules reduce the risk:

1. Store feed somewhere dry and cool, off the ground.
2. Protect it from rodents and birds, which can bring in infection.
3. Do not mix old and new batches in the same bin.
4. Keep the label and receipt until the bag is finished.
5. Do not feed anything that smells mouldy or rotten or has clumps.

If your horse falls ill

If you think your horse has been made ill by its feed, remove the feed from the manger at once and do not give it to other animals. Call your vet and say what the horse ate, when and how much. Keep any leftover feed in a clean bag, as it may be needed for testing.

Report it to the authorities

In the US, suspected feed poisoning is reported to the state department of agriculture and to the FDA. In the UK, contact your vet and your local Trading Standards service, which deals with animal feed problems. Every report helps identify the problem batch sooner and stop sales before other animals are harmed.

Why horses are especially vulnerable

Horses cannot vomit, so everything they eat stays in the digestive tract. They have a very long gut in which toxins can be absorbed over a long time. Many substances that are dangerous to horses affect them more than cattle or sheep. That is why feed for horses has to meet particularly high standards.

Older horses at risk

Cubes are often bought for older horses that find it hard to chew hay. These animals are already weaker and cope worse with any poisoning. Owners of older horses should watch their behaviour especially closely after a change of feed or a new batch.

How to recognise colic

Colic is one of the most common reasons for an emergency vet call. The horse looks round at its belly, kicks at it, paws the ground, lies down and gets up repeatedly, rolls and sweats. It may refuse food and water. Colic is not always linked to feed, but it always needs prompt help.

Changing to a new feed

Even safe feed should be introduced gradually. Vets advise changing a horse's diet over one to two weeks, increasing the new feed a little each day. A sudden change can cause colic or laminitis. If you stop using suspect cubes, replace them with good hay and ask your vet how to make up for the protein and calcium.

Keeping records

A simple notebook or notes on your phone can help in an emergency. Write down which feed and which batch you bought, when you opened the bag, how much each horse gets and how it is doing. If something goes wrong, the vet and inspectors will understand more quickly what happened, and you will be able to show what your horse was fed.

What happens next

While the investigation continues, the department is keeping the hold on the cubes and waiting for the FDA laboratory's results. If the cause is confirmed, the authorities will say which batches were dangerous and what was found in them. Owners of affected horses want answers, and everyone else hopes there will be no new cases.

Feed and international trade

American alfalfa and alfalfa cubes are sold worldwide, including to the Middle East and Asia. Although this case so far concerns only the south-western US, it is a reminder that feed quality depends on the whole chain, from the field and drying to pressing, storage and transport.

What this means for Europe

European horse owners also buy compressed alfalfa and feeds from various producers, sometimes imported. The Utah case is a good moment to check where feed is stored, whether batch labels are kept and whether the yard knows where to report concerns. The faster owners react to unusual signs, the better the chances of saving horses.

When to see a vet

Call your vet straight away if a horse is dull, swaying or stumbling, has trouble chewing or swallowing, a hanging tongue, muscle tremors, signs of colic, or lies down and cannot get up. Do not wait if several horses on the yard fall ill at once: that is a reason to suspect a shared source such as feed or water.