How to Protect Your Cattle During Lightning Storms

Severe storms that produce deadly lightning are often unpredictable. The electrical charge produced by a large bolt of lightning can kill numerous head of cattle within seconds. This can leave your ranching operations in a bind. Below are a few ways to protect your cattle from lightning strikes.

Place Cattle In Well-Grounded Building

If possible, the best area for cattle to be during a severe lightning storm is indoors in a building that is grounded to handle lightning strikes. You will have very little trouble getting them to move for cover. They dislike the storm as much as any human. If you these areas open for them to access, they will normally head right for the structure when the weather turns bad.

Remove Tree Groves

Trees that grow on bunches are a real hazard to cattle during lightning storms. They gather under the branches in hopes of escaping the rain. Lightning is attracted to taller objects, which the trees qualify. When these groupings of trees are hit, you lose many cattle at one time. Lining trees in rows provide some coverage, yet minimizes the overall risk of losing large groups of cattle in one lightning strike.

Set Feed Stations In Low Areas

Placing a feed station at the top of a hill is inherently more dangerous to your cattle than in the low ground. This is just a common sense protective tip.

Block Access to Large Root System Trees

Large trees have incredibly large root systems. They also contain a huge amount of sap. This all helps conduct the electrical charge over a wide swath of ground when hit by lightning. It is another way you can lose large numbers of cattle with one lightning bolt.

Carry Lightning Strike Insurance

The unpredictable nature of storms makes it a good idea to invest in an insurance policy that covers your cattle against injuries and death by lightning strike. One devastating storm can cause financial damages that are hard to recoup from. You can protect your investment from all types of natural disaster, illness, and injuries.

Contact insurance experts like Ark Agency for all of your equine and livestock insurance needs today!