I'v been working with show cattle for over 30 years. The first weekend in April I was helping one of our kids with their heifer in the wash rack to get all the winter grime off. This heifer had been shown last year at State Fair and our Beef Expo. In fact Bodie won the Junior Showmanship with her at Expo.
I reached underneath to "pull off one more mud ball" with a scotch comb. She took offense and kicked me in the side of the knee and dropped me. Went to the emergency room at Mayo the next day. Had a fractured Tibia and a crater in the Tibial Plato in the knee joint. They did surgery a few days later and spent a couple days in the hospital. Now after a month of being at home I finally got to drive this weekend and go back to work buying fat cattle. I will still be on crutches and a brace till the 4th of July.
So it can happen to anybody with any animal. One less swipe of the scotch comb when I knew the heifer was getting tired would have saved us three months of grief. On the upside I'm glad it was me and not one of the kids. Also after being wheeled around the Mayo Clinic for a while, you realize there is a lot of very sick people there and I was fortunate to only be a little busted up. Nothing life threatening.
Always be careful and if your calf seems to be getting tired and impatient, put them away for the day. There is always tomorrow!
This is a story supplied by a man named Ron. 120,000 farm workers are injured, with up to 1,300 of the injuries being fatal. Most farm related injuries are with tractors, but I don't think people realize just how dangerous livestock can be too. So be safe and keep doin' what you love!
I reached underneath to "pull off one more mud ball" with a scotch comb. She took offense and kicked me in the side of the knee and dropped me. Went to the emergency room at Mayo the next day. Had a fractured Tibia and a crater in the Tibial Plato in the knee joint. They did surgery a few days later and spent a couple days in the hospital. Now after a month of being at home I finally got to drive this weekend and go back to work buying fat cattle. I will still be on crutches and a brace till the 4th of July.
So it can happen to anybody with any animal. One less swipe of the scotch comb when I knew the heifer was getting tired would have saved us three months of grief. On the upside I'm glad it was me and not one of the kids. Also after being wheeled around the Mayo Clinic for a while, you realize there is a lot of very sick people there and I was fortunate to only be a little busted up. Nothing life threatening.
Always be careful and if your calf seems to be getting tired and impatient, put them away for the day. There is always tomorrow!
This is a story supplied by a man named Ron. 120,000 farm workers are injured, with up to 1,300 of the injuries being fatal. Most farm related injuries are with tractors, but I don't think people realize just how dangerous livestock can be too. So be safe and keep doin' what you love!
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