I love cows. But they are not the creatures of Disney.
This is a terribly sad story, and demonstrates just what they can do if frightened, injured, or just in a bad mood. Deputy killed by cow.
Here is an article detailing fatalities caused by cows in four states. Scroll down to the table .......
That poor deputy...
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, an animal in pain is more likely to act strangely and strike out at someone or some thing.
I have never become so complacent to ignore the dangers when in close proximity to cattle, whether in an enclosed pen or out on the pasture. You just never know if you're being between a calf and it's mother will upset the mom, or if a bull just decides he doesn't like the look of you. There are usually a bunch of dents on a stockman's vehicle for a reason. I've sure seen cattle lick the feed wagon more than bend it up, but the fact remains that they can and do take on whatever they see as a threat.
I remember hearing long ago that more people are killed each year by bulls than any other animal. Maybe they guess what we humans have in mind for them. So be careful.
ReplyDeleteAw . . . I just couldn't read it. Dang. So sorry. I do have respect for large animals. AND the people who must and can handle them.
ReplyDeleteJeffro, dairy cows are rough enough. I know beef are even more so.
ReplyDeleteWW, I was pretty shocked by that table. We never did use mycotil much, but I am not going to touch it with a ten foot pole from now on. No way an animal drug is worth that kind of risk.
Cathy, I feel so bad for the man and his family.
Yep! We have accidents around here with people and cows. They are big, they are nice, they have beautiful eyes...they can stomp. The owner of the John Deere store lost his ear about three weeks ago. One of the big dairies out here had a cow get mad and beat the owner to a fraction of his life.
ReplyDeleteWe love cows, but like you say...
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I was looking at that table. Pretty sobering. I have been chased over a fence many times. I am 43. Maybe by the time I get to 65, I had better leave the jumping to someone younger!
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect to the elderly meant by that comment. How many between the ages of 14 and 30 do you see on that list? None. Wrangling animals 10 times your size can be tricky and dangerous. Before my dad passed away, I found myself helping him out more, and putting myself in more danger in the process.
Good cattle working equipment, attention to the animals, and staying alert is your best defense.
Linda, so many people don't give them the respect they deserve. We get a lot of people who have never had cattle wanting to buy family cows from us. We have the perfect cows to sell them, the Jerseys, and shorty crosses...but you can't sell them experience in handling them. We had one family wanted to buy a Jersey bull for their son. We didn't sell him though.
ReplyDeletePaul,boy do I hear you!!! I used to be intrepid, get right out there and do it. Now I am almost sixty and find myself, not exactly afraid of them, but afraid of getting hurt. Just don't bounce back like I used to. Liz and I had to handle one of our biggest cows yesterday by ourselves...and I was pretty nervous about it. She was stabled next to one of the calving cows, in a tie stall and she was in heat. She kept trying to jump the heifer on one side, stomping the calving cow on the other side and trying to jump us too. She weighs at least fifteen hundred. When we got her outdoors she started trying to tear down the shed to get to the heifers in there, so we had to put her back in when we were done with the calving. Dang, I was wishing for the men to be home!