An Adair County farmer has been cited for livestock neglect after a recent incident.

Court records show that on December 10th, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of possible livestock neglect and improper disposal of a deceased cow in the 3000 block of 300th Street. A deputy investigated the area and saw no hay, water, or other food sources in the lot, and some of the cows appeared to be malnourished. He found a deceased cow, and another cow on its side who had been in the process of giving birth and must have had complications. The calf was mostly outside of the cow and was frozen. The mother cow was alive but in severe distress. The lot owner, 46-year-old Daniel Ray Brownlee of Macksburg, was informed of the cow’s serious health issues and was instructed to obtain the assistance of his veterinarian or to euthanize the cow himself. Brownlee was also instructed to dispose of the deceased cow.

The deputy returned on December 13th and found that the deceased cow had been moved from its original position near the roadway to a northwest location of the property. He also saw the cow that gave birth was still alive and in serious distress. He contacted Brownlee, who said he believed the cow already died. He then obtained Brownlee’s permission to have a licensed veterinarian euthanize the cow. Brownlee was arrested on December 18th and charged with failure to dispose of a dead animal and livestock neglect. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.