Lightening Strikes Ranches
I will never forget the scene in my all time favorite western Lonesome Dove where the lighting ran across the horns of the cattle herd. It still gives me chills. I’m Susan Allen and I’ll be back on Today’s OpenRange with the devastating effects of electricity can have on ranching . While old timers have told me they have witnessed the phenomena of lightening traveling on the horns of cattle reenacted in the scene in Lonesome Dove it’s hard to fathom. Yet electricity in the form of stray voltage is a reality for ranchers in regions prone to thunder storms. One morning last June the foreman of the Bar-S-Ranch that raises Brahma cattle in Florida discovered a gruesome site , fifteen of his herd lay dead in a tight circle apparent victims of a lightning strike. It was a purebred operation and the 12 cows, two calves and bull killed had an estimated value of over $ 20,000. Electricity hazards can be man made as well. Since the early 80’s a group of dairy farmers have been fighting 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. In the end like as we witnessed with Lonesome Dove, lightening and electricity are just one of host of hazards ranchers encounter on a daily basis. I’m Susan Allen