Cow Protocol

TenBusyBees · #1 12/26/11, 02:35 PM

Two cows showed up on our property about 10 days ago, maybe two weeks. I've walked the fence line and can not find where they came in and both neighbors cows are all accounted for. They are tagged but nothing identifying on it and no branding either. The sheriff's department has been called twice both times they said nobody has reported any cattle missing but an officer would be out shortly. Nobody has shown up yet.

What do I do with these cows? Not only are we not really set up for cattle but we know nothing about cows or the propoer protocol for found cows.

Please advise. Thanks.

BlackWillowFarm · #2 12/26/11, 02:56 PM

I would call the Sheriff dept and ask your question. They don't seem too concerned with finding the owners if they haven't even shown up yet. See if the sheriff can tell you what you have to do legally before you offer them for sale or put them in your freezer.

MO_cows · #3 12/26/11, 02:59 PM

Is there grass left for them to eat? Are they getting water? Don't let them starve on your watch. Those are likely fly tags in their ears if they don't have any numbers on them. They might have a tattoo in their ear but would have to be caught up in a chute to check that.

Ask the sheriff about selling them at the nearest auction barn. You should get to keep a portion of the proceeds to reimburse you for "boarding" them, hauling cost, etc. The sheriff will likely take the rest of the proceeds and give to the owner if/when they turn up.

pancho · #4 12/26/11, 03:50 PM

Different places have different laws. It would be a very good idea to find out the laws where you live before deciding to do anything.

I had a friend who found several cows on his place. He notified the law and did exactly what the law allowed. Here the law states you have to attempt to find the owners and if you can't find them after a certain amount of time they are yours to do with as you wish. The day before the time ran out the owner got in contact with him. By law the owner had to pay for the feed they consumed but my friend didn't keep receipts.
The man took his cows and didn't pay a cent.

southerngurl · #5 12/26/11, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pancho

Different places have different laws. It would be a very good idea to find out the laws where you live before deciding to do anything.

I had a friend who found several cows on his place. He notified the law and did exactly what the law allowed. Here the law states you have to attempt to find the owners and if you can't find them after a certain amount of time they are yours to do with as you wish. The day before the time ran out the owner got in contact with him. By law the owner had to pay for the feed they consumed but my friend didn't keep receipts.
The man took his cows and didn't pay a cent.

Hmm sounds like a good way to get your cows fed for free.

TenBusyBees · #6 12/27/11, 05:33 AM

Thanks for the input, yall. We'll call the sheriff's dept again later on this morning and go from there.

Grass and water wise the cows will be fine. They know where the pond is and we've had 6 weeks of rain after a pretty severe drought so everything is nice and emeraldy. Biggest problem is we have no type of cross fencing or any way to really pen them and they are tearing up the land. Plus they are both pretty skiddish I can't even fathom how we are anyone else is going to be able to catch them. Our property is very rain saturated and very heavily wooded other than what is cleared around the house. Should be interesting I suppose.

Pancho, that really is a bum deal for your buddy. What goes around comes around though.

Thanks again.

haypoint · #7 12/27/11, 08:24 AM

Different laws in different states.
In Michigan, the county Animal Control Officer must post notice in the local newspaper and hold for 14 days. But I don't know of any counties that have a place to hold cows.

Had info is on the tag? Just a plastic bangle tah with a two digit number isn't any help. But if they have a metal bangs tag, those numbers are traceable through your local large animal Vet. Round plastic RFID tag, inside the ear, big as a nickle, but thicker, is traceable, too.

65284 · #8 12/27/11, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pancho

Different places have different laws. It would be a very good idea to find out the laws where you live before deciding to do anything.

I had a friend who found several cows on his place. He notified the law and did exactly what the law allowed. Here the law states you have to attempt to find the owners and if you can't find them after a certain amount of time they are yours to do with as you wish. The day before the time ran out the owner got in contact with him. By law the owner had to pay for the feed they consumed but my friend didn't keep receipts.
The man took his cows and didn't pay a cent.

How would/could one have receipts for the grass they ate? Those cow wouldn't have left my place until there was cash in my hand!

pancho · #9 12/27/11, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65284

How would/could one have receipts for the grass they ate? Those cow wouldn't have left my place until there was cash in my hand!

He was wanting money for the grain and hay the cows ate.
He didn't have any choice unless he wanted to try to hold off the sheriff.
The sheriff accompanied the owner when he came to pick them up.

ramiller5675 · #10 12/27/11, 04:10 PM

Personally, I wouldn't buy any hay or grain to feed any cattle I didn't own. That way I wouldn't have to hassle with getting paid if someone showed up claiming to own the cattle. And, I might be a little suspicious of the motives of someone that decided to buy feed for my cattle.

Have you considered "accidentally" leaving your gates open for a few days so that they can get out and possibly find their own way back to where they belong? Is it possible that someone came down the road and saw some cows out on the road, and decided to "help" you by putting "your" cows back into your pasture?

oregon woodsmok · #11 12/27/11, 09:32 PM

People don't abandon cows like they abandon pets and horses. So they belong to someone.

Have you tried calling the humans society or animal control? Here, animal control will pick them up and the humane society will care for them until either the owner shows up, paying for their expenses, or the county can auction the cows off.

Some people don't check on their cows very often, so it's possible that the owner doesn't know they are missing.

TenBusyBees · #12 12/28/11, 11:28 PM

Well the sheriff's dept still has not shown up but my older boys did meet the property owner behind us. Turns out he was missing a couple of his cows and wondered if my boys had seen them. We haven't seen the cows all day so he must've managed to lure them back home.