Navajo cattle, sheep undergo testing for heavy metal exposure

Equipped with needles and collection tubes, staff from the Navajo Veterinary and Livestock Program waited on Wednesday to collect blood samples from livestock to test whether the animals were exposed to heavy metals as a result of the Gold King Mine spill. This week, the tribal program is providing free blood testing and examinations at the rodeo grounds in Shiprock for cattle and sheep at least 2 years old. The service continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The service is open to Navajo ranchers and farmers who have livestock within three miles of the San Juan River and are concerned their animals consumed river water during the Gold King Mine spill. The Aug. 5 spill released more than 3 million gallons of toxic metals into the Animas and San Juan rivers. Navajo Tribal Veterinarian Scott Bender said there have been no reports of livestock becoming sick from river water...more