TURNER, Ore. — The owner of a sheep farm near Turner where three dozen animals dropped dead last weekend says it was an infection — not the heat or lack of food and water — that caused the deaths.
Owner David Etzel told KOIN necropsies performed by Oregon State University show he did nothing wrong.
Circling buzzards Sunday led neighbors to discover the dead sheep with full-grown wool. They said they had been concerned about their care as temperatures climbed into the 90s.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded and gave surviving sheep water and food.
Etzel has moved 350 sheep to another field, changed their food and is giving them antibiotics.
The Etzels have raised sheep since the 1950s on the 200-acre farm.
