So awful is Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis that a farmer can walk out one morning and find over 200 cows dead in his field, even though there was no evidence they were sick before. But the owner also believes it could have been Bovine Virus Diarrhea. See no one knows but don’t worry.

And don’t worry about the deaths of millions of cattle in South Korea:

In South Korea a potential economic collapse and food shortage may be in the offing due to an outbreak of Hoof-and-Mouth disease. 1.4 million cattle and pigs have been slaughtered in South Korea in an attempt to get ahead of the fast spreading, highly contagious and completely devastating disease. That amounts to 8% of the total livestock in that country.

Meat prices throughout the nation are soaring as a result. The outbreak of Hoof-and-Mouth disease in South Korea began back on November 28 and has spread across much of the nation despite massive efforts by the South Korean government to contain the disease.

Quarantines are in effect, and 68,000 soldiers have been called out to assist regional forces involved in the destruction of infected livestock. Losses are expected to reach $1.2 billion dollars. The soaring cost of meat has added to already inflated food prices.

In addition to battling the outbreak of Hoof-and-Mouth disease South Korea was hit by another outbreak of (H5N1) avian flu, or bird flu, at the end of December, 2010. More than 40,000 poultry have been destroyed.

Hoof-and-mouth disease is a horrific, but commonly known occurrence in livestock so while tragic, what it occurring in South Korea doesn’t seem related to the “mysterious” deaths of other animals around the world.

Sure seems like we should be worrying to me. Animals are dying off at an alarming rate and that will keep us from having enough food. But hey, nothing to see here.