Sixteen cattle died when a truck transporting them rolled over early Wednesday near Spruce View.
Red Deer County volunteer firefighters and technical rescue team members were able to safely free 75 cattle from the overturned truck near Range Road 30 and Township Road 370, about six km north of Spruce View.
The truck driver suffered minor bumps and bruises, said Ric Henderson, Red Deer County’s protective and community services director.
The county’s Livestock Emergency Response Trailer was also called into action following the rollover about 5:20 a.m. The unit is equipped with portable pens, which were set up to hold the cattle once they were freed from the truck.
A veterinarian, area residents and staff from Stauffer Farms Feedlot also offered their aid. The rescued cattle have been move to the feedlot.
Henderson said the truck had come from Kamloops, B.C., and was delivering the cattle to Central Alberta farms.
Weather is believed to be a factor in the rollover.