Thirty-eight cattle have been saved and 17 euthanised after a cattle truck rollover on the Oxley Highway at Huntingdon.
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Emergency services attended the scene at 9.26pm and ambulance officers treated the driver of the vehicle for minor injuries on Monday, July 1.
King Creek Rural Fire Service (RFS), Sancrox-Thrumster RFS, Huntingdon RFS and Wauchope Fire and Rescue crews contained a large diesel spill in the area.
Wauchope RFS station officer Price Conlan said fire crews arrived at the scene and found the truck on its side along with several deceased or partially injured cattle.
"Staff cleared a diesel spill of about 200 litres," said Mr Conlan.
"Stopping fuel and oil from entering waterways with earth movement and hydro-carbon booms.
"We also removed deceased cattle from trailers around midnight and finished covering the area with absorbent material around 4am."
Three NSW Ambulance crews attended the scene and treated the driver, a 50-year-old man for a minor head injury.
He was transported to Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a stable condition.
Wauchope Veterinary Clinic veterinarian Michael Ferguson, who arrived at the scene at 11pm, said on arrival some cattle were trampling each other and bellowing.
"It was not the most pleasant scene, we were just focusing on what we could save and making quick decisions," said Mr Ferguson.
"I think there was nearly 60 (cattle) on the truck.
"Luckily some of the cattle on the top deck managed to get out and they were off roaming. People are still out getting them today (July 2).
"We used an extension pole with a syringe to sedate the cattle, to avoid them trampling themselves and making it worse.
"We managed to save 38 at least. They were bruised and a bit sore but okay thankfully.
"Unfortunately there was a lot of other ones that had been badly trampled and crushed.
"We had to proceed as humanely as possible to euthanise them as quickly as possible.
"It's a really sad, unfortunate incident but it's good that no-one else was injured and we managed to save as many as we did.
"You realise in those circumstances the number of volunteers is really commendable. We are lucky to be in a country where we have these institutions, they made a huge difference."
Sutcliffe Transport owner Barry Sutcliffe said the rollover was an unfortunate mishap.
"Thank you to the people who turned up there - the crane operator, rescue crews, stock men, vet and all the fellas that were there," said Mr Sutcliffe.
"Well wishes to our driver, we haven't spoken about what happened yet.
"There was about 60 cattle on board on their way to the Frederickton abattoirs from a sale out west."
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