Lost cattle

FarmerDavid · #1 07/16/13, 09:37 AM

Had some lost calves show up at my pasture this morning. Called all the neighbors and no on says they are theirs. I put them in the pasture as I don't have a pen for them and didn't want to mess with feeding and watering them. What's procedure here? I guess I'll call the sheriff I case they get reported stolen.

simi-steading · #2 07/16/13, 09:41 AM

Wow.. free steaks.. I wish life was that grand for me...

I think I'd leave a note with the sheriff too... If the neighbors aren't missing any, maybe someone dumped them..

Taylor R. · #3 07/16/13, 10:06 AM

We had some little pigs that wandered up at my mom's a few years back. We put the word out with local law enforcement, stopped in with every neighbor within a mile, and put the word out through our 4-H program (pretty well every breeder in the county has it in with the 4-Hers) and never found their home. So we ate 'em.

Law enforcement will let you know if there is anything else you need to do!

FarmerDavid · #4 07/16/13, 10:17 AM

Sheriff said they hadn't had any reports of stolen cattle. I penned them up in an empty pasture but my calves can squeeze through the culvert and have already been to investigate so I'm hoping they didn't come with any diseases. Surely the owner will pop up, I'm alittle hesitant to let many people know about them for fear that someone will claim them when they aren't theirs. I also told the manager at the coop I case someone comes in there talking about them.

**gone-a-milkin** · #5 07/16/13, 11:25 AM

I always leave word at the local feed store when loose animals turn up around here.

ramiller5675 · #6 07/16/13, 11:52 AM

Did you try following their tracks back to where they came from? A couple of years ago, I had some heifers show up along the road and I followed their tracks and the occasional pile of manure back down the road about three miles to where they actually belonged.

If they hadn't hit the railroad and stopped, they probably would have gotten even farther down the road.

grandma12703 · #7 07/16/13, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerDavid

Had some lost calves show up at my pasture this morning. Called all the neighbors and no on says they are theirs. I put them in the pasture as I don't have a pen for them and didn't want to mess with feeding and watering them. What's procedure here? I guess I'll call the sheriff I case they get reported stolen.

Don't know where in SW MO you are but we had a rancher come by our house between Licking and Houston to tell us they were missing a few cows.

FarmerDavid · #8 07/16/13, 01:39 PM

No I'm west of Springfield.

PNP Katahdins · #9 07/16/13, 02:54 PM

Also notify any veterinarians in the area to keep their ears open, they know a lot of cattle owners. Can you tell if they are dairy or beef calves?

We had some Holstein heifers come down our lane one time. Paul herded them over to a neighbor's pasture figuring they were his and that was right. I followed in the truck to bring him and the dog back. They were about a mile and a half from home via the road.

Peg

Raymond James · #10 07/16/13, 03:18 PM

I think you did right and have done enough.

unregistered5595 · #11 07/16/13, 03:53 PM

there is a lost and found area on Craigslist for Springfield MO.

In the mean time, probably feed and water them.

CJBegins · #12 07/17/13, 07:49 AM

With all the cattle rustling going on in Missouri, especially that area, I would think that the local sheriff would contact other counties. If I had some stolen calves on my trailer and thought I might get caught with them, I would drop them where ever I was.

Something sounds fishy!

FarmerDavid · #13 07/19/13, 10:53 AM

Finally found the owner, they were from about 5 miles away. One of my neighbors has another pasture that boarders him and he called looking for them.

unregistered5595 · #14 07/19/13, 11:08 AM

And you were a good neighbor! Thanks for the follow up!