Turkey Fecal Matter Question

[Rob7]

Ran into a cattle farmer today that was complaining that his cattle were getting sick and even dying from eating the fecal matter of turkeys that are eating his feed that he is feeding the cattle. Needless to say he is not a big fan of the turkeys at the moment. Guess anything is possible but I find it highly unlikely, anybody ever heard of anything similar or have any input on the situation?
Thanks, Rob...

[predator]

Never heard that one before.

[ecmbowhunter]

I don't know about that ....but...Sounds like you have a turkey hunting spot ready and you just need to ask for permission to "get rid of the pesky big black chickens for him";)

[NonTyp]

That's a new one on me. I thought hogs ate crap!

[Mount-N-Man]

I think the farmer must be confused. I have seen turkeys eating grain from cow crap but have never seen a cow eating grain from turkey crap.

[wkyduckslayer]

Why would would they eat crap when they could eat hay, grass or feed. Unless they have none of the above. I believe that he has another problem and needs to figure that out. I have never had a cow get sick and it be turkey crap causing the problem.

[870sm]

I don't know about that ....but...Sounds like you have a turkey hunting spot ready and you just need to ask for permission to "get rid of the pesky big black chickens for him";)
Sounds like the way to go give me the farmer's phone# and i will help him out with his problem...870sm

[WildmanWilson]

I dont think I've ever seen corn pass with turkey droppings so why would cows be eating it ?

[Multidigits]

I believe a cow would likely eat anything on the ground, but I'd like to know how the farmer knows what the cows are eating and what's making them sick? Sounds like BS to me.

[Redlined]

I believe a cow would likely eat anything on the ground, but I'd like to know how the farmer knows what the cows are eating and what's making them sick? Sounds like BS to me.
Agreed.Turkeys seem to catch it for lots of different things.I don't think its always the turkeys,just that turkeys are the only critters seen in daylight so they have to always be the responsible party.:rolleyes:

[limbhanger]

Are the turkeys standing in a feed trough to eat? That could be how the cattle are eating the turkey crap.

[buckfever]

Sounds like he's completely misinformed, but I think I'd keep my mouth shut.

In fact, tell him that you heard the same thing about a Texas rancher that lost 10,000 head and his entire ranch a few years back. ;)

[goldenboy]

That sounds like a weird set-up. I highly doubt the turkeys are the cause of the problem. But birds fecal material when dried and in high concentrations can cause a fungus where spores are release into the air. This makes people sick, it is called histoplasmosis.

[Rob7]

Appreciate all the responses. The farmer I was referring to has the pasture lease on our hunting lease. He was pretty upset the other day and was blaming the Turkeys for a signifigant death loss over the last 4 weeks. I'm a tad bit concerned what he may try to due to remedy the situation himself. I put him in touch with a bioligists but I don't believe he will believe what the biolists tells him. His feeding method is to pour the feed on the ground, you regularly see the cattle and turkey mixed in together feeding. I'm gonna call UK ag today and see if I can find someone to disprove his theory.
Many Thanks,
Rob...

[Valley Station]

It's pretty obvious, either the complaining farmer doesn't want the hunting rights leased to other hunters or he doesn't like the turkey eating his cattle feed. Farmer wanting to poach the turkeys to "save" his cattle??

[Levi]

There was a farmer from Laurel County told me the same thing a few years ago. I talk to a friend of mine that has cattle and he told me that the cows could be eating acrons.

[Chief Huntum]

Maybe his feed has a high concentration of aspergillus (sp?) fungus. No feeding of cows from March to July:D When we were kids a local farmer invited us to shoot as many pigeons as we could. He said the pigeon poop was contaminating his feed because they hung out in the silos. Shooting them was really challenging.

[massive horns]

I would recommend that he not feed his cattle from throwing feed directly on the bare ground..With warming temps, bacteria begin to thrive in soil and that could make the cows sick. If sweet feed is on dirt, crap from other animals, etc.. The cows know no difference in dirt mixed with a little feed.

Buy your farmer a few 10 foot feed troughs. That will solve his problem, and allow you some hunting ground.

[fullstrut1]

The Turkeys eat with my cows everyday. I feed ground feed in metal feeders and the Turkeys get inside the creep feeders I have out for my calves. I have not lost one head all winter. This morning I counted approx. 130 birds in the pasture field behind the house so I know the problem does not stem from the Turkeys or I would have a bunch of dead cattle.

[B.M. Barrelcooker]

Never bothered me none as long as I had some good sweet tea to warsh it down! matter of fact it is a great substitute for copenhagen!