Article

2005-11-02 -Short Attention Span Theater-

A New South Wales mid north coast dairy farmer is trying to come to terms with a lightning strike on his herd this week. There has been a regular pattern of wild electrical storms across the region in the past few days. In one of the most startling events lightning strikes killed 68 dairy cows on a farm about 10 kilometres west of Dorrigo, inland from Coffs Harbour. The cows were clustered together in a paddock about to be milked when they were struck by lightning during a violent electrical storm on Monday afternoon. The storm hit the area at Fernbrook on the Waterfall Way. Another 69 cows survived the lightning bolt. Work begins today to bury the dead animals.

The Dairy Farmers Board says it is almost impossible to protect livestock from being killed by electrical storms. The board's Terry Toohey says he was shocked to hear about the 68 cows. Mr Toohey says there is nothing that can be done. "Probably the only way would be to fence them away from trees and that's an impractical thing to do - it's just one of those nature things that we've got no real control over," he said.

Posted by God Save The World AKA Oztralian 2005-11-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 In the future he should have proper grounding on his milking equipment and non-conductive contacts for the milking attachments.

Posted by 3dc 2005-11-02 00:54|| 2005-11-02 00:54|| Front Page Top

#2 Meanwhile, he should open a BBQ stand.

Posted by .com 2005-11-02 01:31|| 2005-11-02 01:31|| Front Page Top

#3 The cows were clustered together in a paddock about to be milked

That's a legend and what the insurance agent was told. You see I knew these girls..they were all Kinky Kows, their udders were pierced.

Posted by Red Bull 2005-11-02 02:22|| 2005-11-02 02:22|| Front Page Top

#4 The Dairy Farmers Board says it is almost impossible to protect livestock from being killed by electrical storms.

Nah. Just build more golf courses nearby. As tornado target mobile home parks, electrical storms tend to be attracted by people raising poles in the air.

Posted by Thrins Chosing7388 2005-11-02 08:59|| 2005-11-02 08:59|| Front Page Top

#5 Oztralian - Yes, the picture is correct (tho it looks like baby back pork ribs) 68 Lightning charged cows is a lot of BBQ!

Posted by BigEd 2005-11-02 13:31|| 2005-11-02 13:31|| Front Page Top

#6 There has been a regular pattern of wild electrical storms across the region in the past few days.

Global warming! GLOBAL WARMING!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-11-02 13:47|| 2005-11-02 13:47|| Front Page Top

#7 I have to agree with Thrins Chosing7388.

Given that every lawyer, stockbroker and doctor in the US plays golf.

Posted by Uninter Elmeating3493 2005-11-02 14:19|| 2005-11-02 14:19|| Front Page Top

#8 LOL BAR! It works somehow.

Let's keep going. The Lord wouldn't mess with the best milking day of my life....

Posted by Shipman 2005-11-02 16:25|| 2005-11-02 16:25|| Front Page Top

#9 There has been a regular pattern of wild electrical storms along the New South Wales coast since the year dot. They are called Southerly Busters and they are hellacious electrical/hail storms. In 1778 one just about blew the brand new colony of Sydney into the harbour.
An example of the hail: A family friend has a terrace house in inner Sydney suburbia. During a hailstorm a few years ago a hailstone came thru his roof, then thru the kitchen ceiling and finally broke off the end of a 4 inch thick grnite workbench.

Posted by Grunter 2005-11-02 16:27|| 2005-11-02 16:27|| Front Page Top

#10 Now that's a storm.

Posted by Shipman 2005-11-02 18:32|| 2005-11-02 18:32|| Front Page Top

#11 Well, that makes me feel better about the golf-ball and marble sized hail that trashed my garden this last spring, and made my insurance company fork out for a new roof...

Posted by Sgt. Mom">Sgt. Mom 2005-11-02 20:56|| www.sgtstryker.com]">[www.sgtstryker.com] 2005-11-02 20:56|| Front Page Top

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