We reprint in full the report of Elizabeth L. Lyons, D.V.M., M.S., of her inspection of a part of the Ma`alaea ranch in September 1993.
On 18 September 1993, I accompanied staff from the Maui Humane Society, the Maui County Prosecutor’s office, and the Maui Police Department on a site visit to a fenced enclosure mauka of Ma`alaea. The area we examined encompassed the property above the pineapple fields west of the intersection of Honoapi`ilani and Pi`ilani highways and extended southward toward Ma`alaea.
Upon arrival at the northeastern sector of this fenced enclosure, we noted four cattle carcasses grouped together in the corner of the compound. These cattle had been dead for varying lengths of time ranging from an estimated three days for the freshest carcass to approximately three weeks for the oldest. The more recently dead carcasses were bloated; the older carcasses had undergone advanced decomposition, characterized by open body cavities, missing viscera, and large numbers of insect scavengers. Due to the presumed amount of autolysis in the bloated specimens and the advanced decomposition of the older carcasses, no necropsies were performed. The cause of death could therefore not be ascertained for these four animals, although one carcass had a small calf’s head protruding from the vaginal orifice and it may be concluded that her cause of death was attributable to dystocia.
Surrounding these carcasses was a group of living cattle, probably in excess of 100 animals. The condition of these remaining animals ranged from an emaciated, dehydrated downer cow adjacent to the carcasses to a few relatively normal-appearing animals at the periphery of the herd. Most of the animals, however, appeared thin and in poor condition. The downer cow was prodded into a standing position (to rule out obturator nerve paralysis); but she appeared so weak and disoriented that she could move no further and ultimately collapsed into sternal recumbency.
A small bull calf, estimated age approximately 3 days, was observed on the other side of the barbed wire fence. He too was sternally recumbent, curled up in a patch of weeds near the skeletal remains of yet another cow. He was weak, dehydrated, disoriented and ataxic. His hindquarters were encrusted with feces, and a large population of maggots was evident in the anal region.
To explore the enclosure further, we proceeded southward paralleling the fenceline. The animals surrounding the carcasses exhibited unusual behavior during our movement out of the area. Instead of stepping back or fleeing when we approached them within the normal flight range of cattle, they appeared reluctant to move. They were not aggressive, in fact some even approached us, appearing curious. It is my opinion that they were so hungry and thirsty that they overcame their innate distrust of novel stimuli to check if we might provide food or water. It may be that they remembered being fed and or watered in this vicinity and were lingering there, despite the fact that strangers were in the area and no food or water was in view.
As we continued to walk, we observed the condition of the enclosure. As far as we could see, there was no available forage material for these animals. The entire compound appeared to consist of rough lava rocks and barren dusty ground. Many kiawe trees were growing inside the enclosure; they were observed to be stripped of all leaves and small branches to the height that the cattle could reach. We saw no evidence of feed (e.g., grass, hay, grain, alfalfa cubes, etc.) or water (hoses, tanks, troughs, buckets, etc.) at this time. We came upon another dead cow. A female calf, approximate age three weeks, was propped up against a kiawe tree adjacent to the carcass. This calf appeared extremely debilitated: thin, dehydrated, poor coat condition. As we approached her, it became apparent that she was blind; her eyes were sunken, her eyelids swollen and cemented shut with ocular discharge. Upon closer examination, she was covered with lice and her ears were full of ticks.
We walked on and discovered a patch of dried sawdust-like material on the ground. This was identified as decomposing pineapple pulp. The cattle appeared to not recognize this material as food; it was already well-trampled and the cattle continued to walk through it without pausing to sniff or eat it. Again, no other food or water was seen.
The decision was made to remove the calves and take them to the Humane Society for additional treatment. They were loaded onto the truck and we continued to drive along the fenceline road toward Ma`alaea. No additional cattle were seen in this area, nor was food or water observed.
At the Humane Society, the staff and I attempted to stabilize the calves by administering fluids and offering food. The maggots were removed from the anorectal area of the bull calf. Antibiotic ointment was placed in the eyes of the older calf. After this was completed, the calves were bedded down in fresh straw. The staff agreed to offer food and water again in a couple of hours and thereafter as often as the calves would accept them. I left the Humane Society at that time.
On Sunday morning 19 September 1993, Dr. Shepherd telephoned to inform me that one of the calves had died. She called back about an hour later to tell me that the second calf was dead. We met at the Humane Society to perform the necropsies.
— Elizabeth Lyons, D.V.M.
Volume 5, Number 7 January 1995
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