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Post by plantsnobin on Jul 9, 2008 9:46:51 GMT -5
On the feces fed thread, someone said they didn't understand why people don't keep bulls. Yesterday our friends the dairy farmers had a bad day. First, Leon, the dad, who is still milking at 77 years old, sat down on a bucket and passed out. Luckily, he didn't kick the bucket, but an ambulance was called to take him to the hospital. He seems to be ok. His son Steve was then helping brother Larry get the cows in to milk since dad wasn't there. Steve started to pet the bull-you would just have to know Steve-before Larry could get out the sentence -'I wouldn't do that if I were you'. The bull stomped Steve into the ground. No time for a second ambulance call to the farm, they got him in a van and headed to the hospital. He couldn't see. He regained sight while still at our local hospital, they flew him to U of L, he had surgery to remove his ruptured spleen. 12 broken ribs and 2 broken vertebrae. That is why some people don't keep bulls. Funny, Alan and I were talking yesterday about having/not having insurance. Today, I am all for it.
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Post by landarc on Jul 9, 2008 12:02:09 GMT -5
Now, obviously, these folks have a dairy farm, grew up around cows and a bull, and should know better. Why would he pet the bull? How could he not know that is a bad idea? I am glad he is not worse off that what he is, but, I mean, I grew up around animals and never really trust livestock. Especially livestock that still have their gear intact.
BTW, insurance is always a good idea if you have folks working or visiting your land. People find ways to get hurt.
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Post by winter unfazed on Jul 10, 2008 9:24:18 GMT -5
Even on U-pick berry farms there is often some sort of liability insurance. Not that they need it, as if a blackberry is going to attack someone.
But wait...its THORNS just might!!!
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Post by Alan on Jul 10, 2008 15:32:05 GMT -5
We were talking about health insurance, something that I have yet to purchase, we do have liability insurance for the farm though, actually that is a pre-requisite to sell at the county farmers market. I do need to find some health and dental insurance soon though.
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Post by landarc on Jul 10, 2008 19:08:53 GMT -5
Ah, misunderstood, you will want that stuff too. I pay my own, it hurts a bit, although there are the tax credits that we currently get as business owners that it is a direct cost. Still painful, but, not as painful as paying the incredible cost of almost any hospital or doctor visit. It was almost enough to force me back into working for somebody else.
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Post by canadamike on Jul 10, 2008 19:57:30 GMT -5
Take it from a guy who sells insurance:the book of idiotic accidents will never be finished. I can't imagine living in your country without a very good insurance. As landarc says, it hurts, but keeps you alive when bad things happen. And they happen to 40 % of you, and almost everybody when it comes to critical illness. Close to 84% of foreclosures are caused by critical illnesses, and who here has a policy? I do not want to get into insurance so much, as I come here to get away from it. But should anybody need good advice, I can help...hey, I can't sell to you , so I am not biaised, but we have the same products and often companies. I am one of the guys who made universal life insurance big in Canada, I trained/worked with many people , gave workshops, etc... there is a lot hidden in these policies that 90% of insurance agents don't know and don't use. All of you can access the enormous reserves that companies build with your money and keep when you die.... Anyway, send me a pm or else, please don't talk insurance here
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Post by flowerpower on Jul 11, 2008 6:53:05 GMT -5
That's a tough day for one farm. Glad to hear they are both alright. The son should know better than to pet a bull though.
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Post by plantsnobin on Jul 11, 2008 8:14:32 GMT -5
Well, Leon is still in the hospital, haven't really figured out what is wrong with him, Steve is still in intensive care but doing ok. Going to see him tonight. I would love to be able to find a Matador outfit. He probably wouldn't see the humor though. Even if he did, it wouldn't be nice to make someone laugh who has that many broken ribs. Revised count is only 8 broken.
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Post by landarc on Jul 11, 2008 10:28:41 GMT -5
Oh well, only 8 broken ribs, by all means, this is the perfect time for you to throw on that matador outfit and go on in there. Or maybe wait a few days. If he is farm folk, he will see the humor in it, I am sure.
BTW...my ad du jour for this thread...Cattlemax, cattle management and record keeping software.
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Post by winter unfazed on Jul 12, 2008 10:40:21 GMT -5
I live next to a farm where they have cattle, and they keep a bull. Then again, they are raising a beef breed of cattle. From what I have heard, Holstein bulls are much more dangerous than beef-breed bulls.
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Post by plantsnobin on Jul 13, 2008 9:07:58 GMT -5
Went to see Steve last night and he looked a lot better than I thought he would. They did have to put a chest tube in day before yesterday, but he is in pretty good spirits. While we were there we found out that there is another guy from our county there who was riding a motorcycle and was hit by a deer. His passenger was there visiting and had road rash and a limp but was ok. The driver had to have half of his brain removed and might be luckier if he didn't make it. The wonders of modern medicine-they can save people with horrible injuries, but at what cost?
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Post by landarc on Jul 13, 2008 14:19:17 GMT -5
Gads, I do not see how that can end well for the biker. Just don't know about that.
Good news about your friend Steve, what about Leon? Is he getting any answers?
Jeffrey, I wouldn't go being too friendly with any bull, or any other allegedly calm male animal. I have seen stallions and bulls that were just as peaceful as can be go nuts under the right condition.
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sammyqc
grub
Urban, small raised beds, Zone 5 (Canada)
Posts: 94
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Post by sammyqc on Jul 13, 2008 22:55:29 GMT -5
Quote:
"Jeffrey, I wouldn't go being too friendly with any bull, or any other allegedly calm male animal. I have seen stallions and bulls that were just as peaceful as can be go nuts under the right condition."
;D ;D
Oh man. That made me laugh! No such thing as allegedly calm male animals, including husbands!!!
The only livestock I've ever worked with is equine, and they tend to prove the rule, as well. I would trust a stallion about as far as I could throw him. Always depends on the individual animal, but still, you need to be aware! Mind you, the mares can be pretty moody as well, given the right circumstance!
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Post by landarc on Jul 13, 2008 23:05:50 GMT -5
"Mind you, the mares can be pretty moody as well, given the right circumstance!"
I have noticed in my experience in the equestrian world, that the mares can get quite moody., Especially if you have an offbeat sense of humor. My motto whilst shooting video at those shows, when asked if I ride was...I don't like riding horses, but, I like riding equestrians!
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Post by plantsnobin on Jul 14, 2008 8:44:11 GMT -5
I trust horses even less than cows. We bought an Arabian for our daughter, and a friend of mine who had race horses got mad at me. Said I was going to get Alison killed. She was bred when we got her, and friend said that the first thing we needed to do when the foal was born was to hit it HARD across the head with a shovel, to show it who was boss. I thought that was horrible, but it turns out, that is what we should have done. If Steves brother hadn't had to hit that bull across the head a couple of weeks earlier, there would have been two people seriously hurt. Larry's voice was able to get the bulls attention, and it decided it didn't want to mess with him. If feel bad for the guy hit by the deer. I knew him a long time ago. He is deaf, so I can't imagine how hard it will be for him to try to communicate his needs, if he does wake up. Going to a trauma center ICU always makes you feel pretty bad, you see so many people whose lives have been turned upside down in an instant. Makes petty troubles of your day disappear.
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