A Texas farm fire and explosion which killed more than 18,000 cows and left one worker seriously injured has highlighted the importance of fire safety measures on-farm.
Clouds of black smoke filled the air above South Fork Dairy Farm in West Texas for hours on April 10 as firefighters worked to tame the fire that spread through the dairy building.
Fire crews rescued one farm worker who was trapped inside. They were taken to a nearby hospital and are in a serious condition, according to the Castro County Sheriffs Office.
The scale of the explosion has shocked livestock farmers across the UK.
Welsh dairy farmer and NFU Cymru deputy president Abi Reader said it was difficult to understand how a fire like this could have spread to cause so much tragedy.
It is crucial farm teams have a plan for what to do in the event of a fire to ensure safety of livestock and people. For example, is everyone absolutely certain they know where their fire hydrant is and know who to call, she said.
The blaze happened in one of Texass biggest milk production counties and has led to the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) demanding tougher legislation to protect cattle from barn fires.
AWI policy associate Allie Granger said: It shows we need to take a hard look at how we raise animals in this country and the risks that come with packing such a large number of animals.
If farms continue to grow bigger and bigger, the risk of another catastrophe like this one would only increase, she said.
NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes said: It would be equally devastating for a farmer in the UK for a shed with 100 cows in, it is still a loss of animals. It was the sheer scale that was mind-blowing for us, he said.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
