Winter has claimed another barn roof in the Maritimes, killing a significant part of one New Brunswick family’s herd of cattle.
At the Manning farm in Waterford, N.B., the family heard a loud noise Wednesday and assumed ice was sliding off the metal roof on the barn.
Instead, part of the structure had collapsed, trapping 27 of the family’s best milk-producing cows.
“If it had of happened later in the day, most of the cows would have been in laying down, but it happened when it was full capacity,” said farmer Robin Manning.
Some animals died instantly, while others had to be euthanized.
“I stuck my head over that and there were cows struggling to get out of the debris,” recalled his brother Rubin.
Neighbours quickly arrived with excavators to lift the roof, while a vet was also on hand, euthanizing the animals that couldn’t be saved.
The family is grateful for the quick response from the community.
“They drove the excavators on the steel, reached out with the claw and pried the barn up while firefighters and us and other farmers pulled the cows out,” said Rubin.
“The RCMP had to block the driveway because there were so many people coming in, farmers coming in offering whatever,” recalled Robin.
After rescuing the animals caught under the roof, the Mannings’ thoughts turned to what could have been.
“I wandered through about 10 minutes before. I stuck my head around the corner just to make sure my nephew already fed the hay,” said Rubin.
They’ve had some good news, too: three injured cows have recovered enough to be released back into the herd.
The family says it’ll now focus on rebuilding the barn as soon as possible.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis
