O’NEILL, Neb. – Authorities in northern Nebraska spent nearly seven hours in the snow after a semi carrying cattle rolled over near O’Neill.

The O’Neill Volunteer Fire Department said Saturday that the semi rolled into a ditch that included both old snow and new, making for a “difficult situation.”

The semi was hauling 70 head of cattle, of which rescuers were able to remove 50. The surviving cattle were taken to Shamrock Livestock Market in O’Neill for safekeeping.

The remaining 20 animals did not survive.

OVFD said it was aided at the scene by the Holt County Sheriff’s Office, A&J Towing, the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Emme Construction, Dr. Kirk Sholes from the O’Neill Veterinary Clinic, and numerous ranchers and farmers who brought trailers and tractors to get cattle back to the sale barn safely.