Authorities are investigating what the sheriff says appears to be the starvation of 60 cattle at a Bland County farm.
Sheriff Melvin M. Cox said Wednesday that investigators began looking into the deaths after seven of the animals were seen lying along a ridge several days ago. He said the owner of the farm along Route 52 north of Bland likely faces criminal charges.
"I'm sure he's going to be charged. We're going to meet tomorrow with the commonwealth's attorney," Cox said.
Cox said the carcass of one of the animals has been sent to a state health department lab in Wytheville. He identified the farm owner as Harry Thompson and said Thompson told investigators that the animals had died after eating laurel. Cox said he didn't see any laurel on the farm and doesn't believe that explanation. The 50 to 60 cattle still alive on the farm look like they are starving, Cox said.
"You see the ribs, they can hardly stand up," he said. "I've been here for 33 years and I've never seen anything like this. It's just pitiful." Case Updates | 
