Cow/heifer dies during birth - do you butcher her?

[NonTypicalCPA]

I'm still pretty new to cattle and thankfully haven't lost any. However, this question has popped up in my mind as I have a heifer due any day. What do you folks do with the cow/heifer that dies during or shortly after birth?

 

[jehosofat]

Bury her, meat ain't gonna be any good after that much stress.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I agree with jumping jehosofat.

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

That was my concern. I know in whitetails, a lot of stress hormones negatively affect the meat. Thanks for confirming in cattle. I hope to never experience it.

 

[jerry27150]

if the cow is alive we have always eaten them. vet claimed the hormones from calving tenderizes the meat

 

[Workinonit Farm]

That was my concern. I know in whitetails, a lot of stress hormones negatively affect the meat. Thanks for confirming in cattle. I hope to never experience it.

Instead of wasting her, you could use her for dog food.

 

[cowgirl8]

The meat will be watery and smell funny when its cooking....

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

That was my concern. I know in whitetails, a lot of stress hormones negatively affect the meat. Thanks for confirming in cattle. I hope to never experience it.

Instead of wasting her, you could use her for dog food.

My lab would be all about that!!

 

[True Grit Farms]

It'll be the worst beef you've ever ate, I have that sign.

 

[jehosofat]

The meat will be watery and smell funny when its cooking....

What's it taste like?

 

[boondocks]

Wouldn't meat salvagers/renderers come pick one like that up (assuming the cause of death was clearly childbirth not infection)? At least then you wouldn't have the chore of burying her on top of the loss of the cow....