We were vaccinating cows and a gate was accidentally left open to the grove behind the shed. A few cows and the bull decided to take that route. We went back there to get them out back to the pasture, and all was going fine. The cows were headed out and the bull was following. All of a sudden, there was a crash and the bull disappeared. Walked back to where he was, and found out he fell down an abandoned well. We have lived here for over 10 years, have walked the grove several times to pick up sticks and chase cows out and have never even had an indication that it was there. The well was about 20 feet deep and 5 ft in diameter, and the bull fell hind end first down it and got wedged.
We went back and forth on how to get him out, by digging, lifting, and contemplated just shooting him. The neighbor owns a construction company, so we gave him a call to see if we could borrow his backhoe. He was at job site and said to just go get it. Got that maneuvered into the grove and started digging. The bull was throwing his head back and forth, so we put a chain on him to hold him steady.
Called another neighbor for help. He came over and helped hand dig in between using the backhoe so we didn't hit the bull with the bucket.
We were digging so deep, we were worried about if whether or not we'd get deep enough to get him out without having to lift him out by the neck. We were able to dig down, move all the rock and dirt away from him and pull him out.
If the well was another 5 feet deeper, we wouldn't have been able to get him out.
The bull stood up after we got him out, and we put him in the pen next to the barn. Since he was shown, we put a halter on him and rinsed him off to assess the damage since he was covered in mud and dirt. He only had a scratch on his nose from throwing his head. We called the vet and told him what happened to see if he thought we should give him anything, and he told us to give him some antibiotics just in case he got fluid in his lungs so he wouldn't get pneumonia. It's been a couple days, and he's a little sore, but so far he's ok.
Two days ago, we went to check on a couple calves with pink eye in one pasture. We found out we're missing 4 month old calf. Searched high and low for it, in all the creek beds, along ravines, in neighboring pastures. Searched 4 hours that day, and searched another 4 yesterday, and spent nearly all day combing pastures today. Haven't found it yet. Mom calls for it, but the calf is no where to be found. All the fences are in good condition with no signs of being pushed through. I hope the calf turns up somewhere.
We went back and forth on how to get him out, by digging, lifting, and contemplated just shooting him. The neighbor owns a construction company, so we gave him a call to see if we could borrow his backhoe. He was at job site and said to just go get it. Got that maneuvered into the grove and started digging. The bull was throwing his head back and forth, so we put a chain on him to hold him steady.
Called another neighbor for help. He came over and helped hand dig in between using the backhoe so we didn't hit the bull with the bucket.
We were digging so deep, we were worried about if whether or not we'd get deep enough to get him out without having to lift him out by the neck. We were able to dig down, move all the rock and dirt away from him and pull him out.
If the well was another 5 feet deeper, we wouldn't have been able to get him out.
The bull stood up after we got him out, and we put him in the pen next to the barn. Since he was shown, we put a halter on him and rinsed him off to assess the damage since he was covered in mud and dirt. He only had a scratch on his nose from throwing his head. We called the vet and told him what happened to see if he thought we should give him anything, and he told us to give him some antibiotics just in case he got fluid in his lungs so he wouldn't get pneumonia. It's been a couple days, and he's a little sore, but so far he's ok.
Two days ago, we went to check on a couple calves with pink eye in one pasture. We found out we're missing 4 month old calf. Searched high and low for it, in all the creek beds, along ravines, in neighboring pastures. Searched 4 hours that day, and searched another 4 yesterday, and spent nearly all day combing pastures today. Haven't found it yet. Mom calls for it, but the calf is no where to be found. All the fences are in good condition with no signs of being pushed through. I hope the calf turns up somewhere.
