Dive Brief:
- The University of Alaska Fairbanks is facing potential fines for the starvation deaths of 12 musk oxen in its herd in 2010 and 2011.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accusing the university of violating the Animal Welfare Act, failing to provide adequate veterinary care or identify that the oxen were losing weight.
- An administrative law judge will decide whether the university will have to pay fines, which could be up to $10,000 per animal.
Dive Insight:
Well, at least they weren’t given injections by the medical assistant students. According to the university, the oxen died because a deficiency of trace minerals, such as copper and cobalt, even though they had access to hay. Changes have since been made in the animals’ diet supplements, and how they are cared for and how health concerns are reported, and the herd is reportedly healthy now. The oxen herd is used to study behavior, metabolism, energy use, and reproduction.