Stressing Safety

Dr. Eric Knock ('07)
As a veterinarian, Eric Knock has worked with his share of cattle and with various cattle chutes, but last September he got caught between two hard places. "We were ultrasounding and preg-checking heifers, and I was pouring a bull," Knock recalled. "And I stood up right next to the chute." Problem was, when the 6' 8" Knock stood up, the squeeze was released to free the bull, and Knock's head became pinched between the chute frame and the squeeze. His resulting injuries kept him in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital for two weeks. While still recovering from his injuries, Knock now encourages veterinarians to stress safety regardless of their experiences. "I had worked with a variety of chutes over the years and used this portable chute a handful of times," Knock said. "We all need to simply slow down, don't be in a hurry, and be aware of the risk areas."