Published Date:
15 June 2009
A SINGLE lightning strike has killed 16 cows as they sheltered under a tree at a farm in East Lothian
The beef cattle were staying out of the rain at Saltoun Home Farm, near Pencaitland, on Sunday afternoon when lightning struck one of them.
It is thought the cow was standing in a puddle, and the water conducted the bolt to the other animals.
Farm manager Jim McDougal, 60, said: "A neighbour dropped in to tell us something was wrong with the cattle. We went down expecting that one had been hit by lightning, but when we went down there were 16 of them. They were in quite peaceful and regimented positions, lying down. I've never seen anything like it in my life, it's devastation - it's your livelihood."
He estimated that each cow was worth around £1,000.
Mr McDougal said a vet who had inspected the carcases confirmed that they had been struck by lightning.
-
Last Updated:
15 June 2009 4:05 PM
-
Source:
Edinburgh Evening News
-
Location:
Edinburgh
