Hutchinson ? State officials say intense heat that baked most of Kansas killed more than 2,600 cattle in feedlots during three days in July.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Monday that it received reports of 2,620 cattle dying from July 16-18.

The cattle were either buried at the feedlot sites, sent to renderers or composted.

Environmental Scientist Ken Powell told The Hutchinson News that a dozen feed yards reported animals dying, ranging from about 20 animals in one lot to to 813 in another lot. The deaths occurred in a line from Salina to Dodge City.

Powell says a break in heat and high humidity has helped reduce the deaths since July 18.