ELECTROCUTION OF COWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5059, 1 December 1926, Page 3

ELECTROCUTION OF COWS

TWELVE ANIMALS KILLED.

TOTAL VALUE OF ABOUT £2OO.

By 7 far the, heaviest toll among New Zealand cattle from live wire electrocution was taken at Tatuanui early on Monday morning, when 12 dairy cows, owned by Mr F. Klaus, came into contact with a falling electric power wire. .

At about 4 a.m. Mr Klaus, who had just risen, heard a loud bejlow from a paddock close to his house. This was 'followed by a thud, more bellowing, and 'further thuds. It was, only a matter of seconds before Mr Klaus was outside, and the early morning light revealed a distressing sight, twelve of the cattle lying in a line and the remainder of the herd stampeding round the'spot. The owner lost no time in putting them in another paddock so as to avert ’further disaster. Death was apparently, instantaneous, except in the case o'f one cow, which was writhing and groaning when Mr Klaus, arrived. He put an end to the animal’s agony. Judging by the condition of the pasture in the vicinity of the broken wire the whdle herd of 83 must have bee.n grazing almost bqlow' the break.

The wire which caused such heavy mortality and which broke off at an insulator, carried only 230 volts. Under ordinary conditions this would not be sufficient to cause death to a man, but cows are very susceptible to electric shock. 1

The loss is a particularly heavy one. All of the animals, except one, were heavy producers, and we,re the best in the herd. Mr Klaus values, them at approximately £l5 apiece, bringing the total value to the vicinity oF £2OO.