KALAMAZOO -- A pregnant cow ran loose at the Kalamazoo County Fair for nearly 45 minutes on Tuesday, knocking over several bystanders and fair officials who attempted to corral it.One woman was taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure after being charged by the cow, said Bonna Perrin, the fair's president.

The 5-year-old Holstein escaped while fair workers were exchanging it for another cow that had given birth at the Miracle of Birth tent several hours earlier, said Chris Rohwer, a veterinarian at the Sprinkle Road Veterinarian Office who is in charge of the birthing process at the exhibit.

Loose cow at fair

The pregnant cow was to be on exhibit until it gave birth, which is expected during the next several days.

"The cow was pretty excited from getting off the trailer, she saw an opening, and she took her opening, which was kind of over the fence," he said. "She tried to jump the fence, in the process took out the controls or the bands on the fence and went out of the tent."

Rohwer said pregnant cows are very easily agitated and are not used to being handled or around large crowds.

Several fair workers and bystanders were charged by the frantic cow once it was surrounded near the entrance of the grandstand by fair workers and crowds of fair-goers.

Fair workers used a newly born calf to lure the loose cow to a corner near the grandstand and Hazel Gray building.

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Kalamazoo County Animal Control and police officers, including members of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, assisted in containing the animal by barricading it with their trucks and cruisers.

The cow stomped around and swung its head for nearly 45 minutes and was finally forced into its trailer after being cornered between the grandstand fence and the Hazel Gray building by fair workers and law enforcement.

"She was probably as happy as a clam to get back in that trailer," said Mike Moreland, president of the 4-H Livestock Superintendent Association.

Steve Gazdag, a fair board member, was knocked to the ground by the cow while trying to prevent it from running toward the crowded midway area.

"I wasn't planning on going out there, but you got to do what you do," he said.

Rohwer said a tranquilizer could have been used on the cow but that the situation hadn't reached a point where it was necessary. A tranquilizer also could harm the unborn calf, he added.

The cow did not return to the exhibit after it was caught and was not injured, Rohwer said.

Perrin said pregnant animals will be transported at night from now on so that they don't become spooked by the cheering crowds during the day.