Electricity Tragedies
Hands down the best western movie of all times also had one of the most memorable and chilling scenes and despite how great the special effects were, they don’t hold a candle to the real deal. I’m Susan Allen stay tuned for Open Range. Who can ever forget the scene in Lonesome Dove where the lighting runs across the horns of the cattle herd. It still gives me chill bumps especially when an old cowboy friend told me he also witnessed the phenomena. Yet electricity in the form of stray voltage is a reality for ranchers in regions prone to thunder storms. In fact in Florida, last year the foreman of the Bar-S-Ranch that raises Brahma cattle discovered a gruesome site, fifteen of his herd lay dead in a tight circle apparent victims of a lightning strike. Being a purebred operation the twelve cows, two calves and bull killed had an estimated value of over twenty thousand dollers. Electricity hazards can also be man made. Since the early 80’s a group of dairy farmers have been battling for legislation that would protect them from being hit with stray voltage. At least six dairy farmers in Minnesota have filed suites against utility companies blaming old and over taxed power lines for the reason their herds are sick, dying and producing less milk. The utlitiy company attourneys contend there is no proof electricty harmed cattle, rather cattle condition is the result of poor herd manangement. In the end as witnessed with Lonesome Dove, lightening and electricity are just one of host of hazards ranchers contend with . I’m Susan Allen
