Eastern Indiana farmer charged after dead cows found

WEST COLLEGE CORNER, Ind. (AP) - An eastern Indiana farmer faces charges after 38 dead cows were found on his property.

The (Richmond) Palladium-Item reports 42-year-old Rodney Sintz of West College Corner is charged with three counts of failure to properly dispose of a dead animal and three counts of cruelty to an animal.

Court documents say an Indiana State Board of Animal Health field veterinarian found the dead cows in various stages of decomposition on March 5. Under state law, animals must be properly disposed of within 24 hours of an owner's knowledge that they have died.

The veterinarian said other cattle appeared below normal body weight and about half of the herd didn't have access to adequate food and water.

A phone call to Sintz's home rang unanswered Tuesday.

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Information from: Palladium-Item, http://www.pal-item.com