Neighbor's Bull - HELP

Tana has given you some good advice. I will mention this, if you own livestock they will eventually be where they shouldn"t be. Before you get to carried away, imagine what might happen if next year your cattle are in his pasture. I also concer that an electric fence is the most effective. I have troubles with bulls comeing to my fall calvers as the neighbors cows are well past bred by that time. I also have a bull who has went to visit the girls across the fence. Heck Iv'e been known to look longingly across the fence at a pretty gal from time to time.

As the owner of a small Jersey heifer, this is my biggest concern. Any of the neighboring bulls are all big and it would likely kill my heifer to deliver such a calf.
My opinion about shooting this bull is because you said the owner "isn't concerned" with him being in your pasture. If he were there trying to get his bull back home and keep him home, then I would be much more lenient.
Let us know how it all turns out would you. I am hoping this story has a happy ending.
Trisha

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Trisha in WA
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Diamond Belle Ranch

What else does a man have to do in his short time here on earth than build soil and feed people~Forerunner

I'm glad some of you aren't my neighbors, shoot the bull or sell the bull in your name not the owners. That is a criminal act here, killing or stealing cattle here will get you a trip to the big house.

Is not a bull (like a stallion) considered a dangerous animal?? If you or any member of your family gets hurt the bulls owner could be looking at huge losses..after checking local laws I would inform him of the penalties and get good pictures of his animal on your property.

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" As needs-MUST!!"--- in other words..a gal does what a gal has too!

What's new BJ?

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TOPSIDE FARMS

The man who leases our pastures has a very docile bull. He is in no way, that I have seen, dangerous. He does, however, throw very big calves, and I have pulled a dead calf off a heifer two years in a row, before sending that heifer to the butcher.

This year I watched him court my new yearling heifer across a hot wire several months in a row without breaching the fence. Then I made the mistake of moving her to an interior field surrounded by goat fencing. Over he came, and off she went to the butcher.


If this bull respects hot wire, I'd think it would be worth your while to string some. jmo. Perhaps your neighbor does not understand your concerns. It'd be good if you could calmly discuss them, and discuss sharing solutions.

Many good responses, unfortunately, they involve assertiveness and standing up for one's rights. Which for some people is not possible. More worried about making an enemy than in defending one's property. But if you think about it, why would you want to be friends with a jerk, assuming we're hearing the whole story.

I recall years ago the neighbor bull kept getting into our place. Eventually we roped him and tied him in the pickup to some racks, but he hung himself by the time we got up to the corral. Called the neighbor and told him to come get his bull - he did. Gutted and cut him up. End of problem. Not the best way to end a life, though.

Read this:
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C200-299/2720000230.HTM

It sure helps to know your state laws.

What a strange world we live in.
Shooting an animal that repeatedly puts your livestock and livelyhood in jepardy is a criminal act.
Sort of reminds me of the different stories told after a horse auction. Those that came to buy complain that the horses were selling too high, but those that were there to sell complain about the bottom being out of the horse market.

I'm guessing those that are ready to shoot the bugger have good fences and those that think "bulls will be bulls" have gotten a few calls from neighbors to come get their "misplaced" bull, cow, livestock or dogs.


Always two sides to an argument and seldom is it all black and white. Solutions are simple when looked at from afar. Can you tell him, " Your bull is still here and when you come over, I'd like to discuss how we can resolve the problem with my heifers being bred too young by your bull. There'll be medical expences to pregnancy check and costs for drugs to abort. I figure pasture is worth about $100 a month, so in order to keep your feed bill down, you might want to get him back home right away."

Come and get him or I will put him in the FREEZER !!!!!!!!!!!

Emily, I know it's offpost, but if you end up with any jersey/brahman cross heifers next year, I'd like a chance to buy. These make great range cows and I sure like the way they stay in flesh while milking well. Most of them come out gray with reddish tips.

Honestly, I hope you don't from a dairyman's perspective! Though having a cow in the barn with an 18" hump on it's back might make for an interesting milking. lol.........

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

You don't have a bull problem, you've got a neighbor problem.

A lot of people will think "big deal, you are getting your cow bred for free", and won't consider your situation a serious problem until you start making a stink about it. I had this happen once with a neighbor's angus getting into my dairy herd--ended up having to abort one of the heifers that I knew he'd gotten to. Neighbor's didn't think it was that much of a problem, but by golly when I got done with them, they realized that it was one, and the bull went on the truck later that week.

No one likes to mess with a bull doing this kind of stuff, it's difficult work trying to contain them and could be dangerous to boot, but you have a right to have your own bull breeding your cows without interference.

If you don't want to make a big stink, consider letting the guy pasture your bull and let him use him for breeding, and you get your bull back when you need him. Then you'll only be contending with your own bull. Might work out ok that way.

Good luck. Things like this are a real headache.

Jennifer

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-Northern NYS

Thanks to everyone who posted their suggestions to our visiting bull situation. Cattleman, exactly one week later, did contact us to get permission to come on our property and retreive his bull. The bull was gentle, and once over the fence and bred our heifer, he was happy. The owner came and gently pushed him out of the timber and into our corral and our two cows followed! He brought his trailer the following day, loaded him up and took him to sale. DH has talked to the vet and will give the heifer a shot to abort any pregnancy. Hopefully she will come back into heat with the other 3 heifers to be bred by our bull in December.

I think the problem is the attitude of this cattleman. He has hundreds of cows and we have 20...so in his eyes we are city farmers. He has never given us much courtesy or respect and I don't expect that will change. DH did tell the guy he must put up electric to hold his livestock.....or take out the bull sooner. We have run electric around our 40 acres, for our cattle, but doesn't help in this situation. We just feel lucky that the heifer is ok, the fence can be repaired, and the bull is gone! Life on the farm is back to normal. We will remember the advice that all of you gave us because it's for certain we'll need it next year!

Best Wishes from Missouri!

The shot to make the heifer abort does not always work.Don't be surprised if she stays bred.That has happened to me in the past.