tnwalkingred
Well-known member
All,
Let me preface this story by saying I've had one of the worst weeks at my job I've ever had since being promoted to management so before this incident I was already about to have a come apart.
I worked all day yesterday, all through the night (till 3am), and then a full shift today till 5. I got a phone call at lunch from my grandfather telling me he had fell and needed me to come by and help my father finish up some yard work they were supposed to be doing together. So I got off work, traded out vehicles, and headed to my grandparents house. As I was leaving I noticed the cows and horses both needed some hay set out. Well after I got done helping my father I got really weak. I went inside to visit for a bit and rest before heading home. I ended staying till almost dark so it was completely dark when I arrived at the house. My girlfriend was there with my daughter and they were ready to eat supper and I was ready to lay down and call it a week. As I walked in the house I told her that the animals needed some hay set out. She told me just to wait till in the morning and that they would be fine. I decided to put my boots back on and headed to the hay barn.
I started the tractor and turned on all the lights. I pulled out of the hay barn and headed to the horse pasture when I noticed something out of place at the gate going into the cattle pasture. I swing around and immediately my heart sank. I could tell it was one of my yearling registered Angus heifers laying on the outside of the fence tangled in barb wire and not moving at all! I just knew she was dead. I hopped off the tractor and ran to her. When I approached she moved but was cast uphill, tangled in 5 strands of bard wire, and had her back feet on the opposite side of a wood gate post. I jumped in and was able pull the barb wire away from her head which she slung loose of. She had obviously jumped over the fence hanging it as she fell over in a corner. Now that I had her free of the barb wire I had to get her up. I opened the gate and swung it open. When I did this I was able to grab her back legs and pull them around the post towards her body. I got lucky that she decided to wait and kick at me until after we were free of the post. I got kicked but fortunately we were free of one more obstacle. Now all I had to do was get her uncast and back on her feet. I grabbed her off side front and back feet both and pulled her down the hill. She rolled over and to my amazement she just stood right up. She stood there for about 30 seconds and then walked back into the open gate. I put them a fresh roll of hay out and she went right to eating with all the other cows. I'm so relieved as she is my favorite heifer and at 800 pounds worth a pretty penny!
She had already began to bloat a little but I imagine she had not been there very long. I'm just very blessed that I didn't put off feeding till in the morning. She would have been dead for sure and I would have been heartbroken. I'll get her up in the morning and give her a tetanus shot and check her wounds to see if they need tending to. Sometimes no matter how bad things are there is always a bright spot in life and finding that heifer alive tonight was mine.
Kyle
Let me preface this story by saying I've had one of the worst weeks at my job I've ever had since being promoted to management so before this incident I was already about to have a come apart.
I worked all day yesterday, all through the night (till 3am), and then a full shift today till 5. I got a phone call at lunch from my grandfather telling me he had fell and needed me to come by and help my father finish up some yard work they were supposed to be doing together. So I got off work, traded out vehicles, and headed to my grandparents house. As I was leaving I noticed the cows and horses both needed some hay set out. Well after I got done helping my father I got really weak. I went inside to visit for a bit and rest before heading home. I ended staying till almost dark so it was completely dark when I arrived at the house. My girlfriend was there with my daughter and they were ready to eat supper and I was ready to lay down and call it a week. As I walked in the house I told her that the animals needed some hay set out. She told me just to wait till in the morning and that they would be fine. I decided to put my boots back on and headed to the hay barn.
I started the tractor and turned on all the lights. I pulled out of the hay barn and headed to the horse pasture when I noticed something out of place at the gate going into the cattle pasture. I swing around and immediately my heart sank. I could tell it was one of my yearling registered Angus heifers laying on the outside of the fence tangled in barb wire and not moving at all! I just knew she was dead. I hopped off the tractor and ran to her. When I approached she moved but was cast uphill, tangled in 5 strands of bard wire, and had her back feet on the opposite side of a wood gate post. I jumped in and was able pull the barb wire away from her head which she slung loose of. She had obviously jumped over the fence hanging it as she fell over in a corner. Now that I had her free of the barb wire I had to get her up. I opened the gate and swung it open. When I did this I was able to grab her back legs and pull them around the post towards her body. I got lucky that she decided to wait and kick at me until after we were free of the post. I got kicked but fortunately we were free of one more obstacle. Now all I had to do was get her uncast and back on her feet. I grabbed her off side front and back feet both and pulled her down the hill. She rolled over and to my amazement she just stood right up. She stood there for about 30 seconds and then walked back into the open gate. I put them a fresh roll of hay out and she went right to eating with all the other cows. I'm so relieved as she is my favorite heifer and at 800 pounds worth a pretty penny!
She had already began to bloat a little but I imagine she had not been there very long. I'm just very blessed that I didn't put off feeding till in the morning. She would have been dead for sure and I would have been heartbroken. I'll get her up in the morning and give her a tetanus shot and check her wounds to see if they need tending to. Sometimes no matter how bad things are there is always a bright spot in life and finding that heifer alive tonight was mine.
Kyle
