Cow Troubles

[TexasRancher]

It's not difficult to find out who the farmer-owner of the cattle are. Calculate the real amount of forage the cows are getting...be accurate and fair and then go to the owner with an invoice for the $15. to $45 worth of grass taken. Most cattle owners would pay or make amends to help you. It's not really the cows fault, not really the jurisdiction of the police or legal entities....talk to the cattle owner....he'll pay small invoices and maybe even bring you over cuts of prime beef....sounds like you have a lot of land. Do some research on cattle and how cool they are...relax and you might find you like having them grazing your lawn down...for myself i'd be delighted.

 

[TexasRancher]

Here's how...you shall approach the cattle owner....to make peace. Respect is everything.

 

[Lee VanRoss]

It's not difficult to find out who the farmer-owner of the cattle are. Calculate the real amount of forage the cows are getting...be accurate and fair and then go to the owner with an invoice for the $15. to $45 worth of grass taken. Most cattle owners would pay or make amends to help you. It's not really the cows fault, not really the jurisdiction of the police or legal entities....talk to the cattle owner....he'll pay small invoices and maybe even bring you over cuts of prime beef....sounds like you have a lot of land. Do some research on cattle and how cool they are...relax and you might find you like having them grazing your lawn down...for myself i'd be delighted.

TR> As usual you are right and have a good handle on a situation. On reflection the poster came on with a specific situation which
appeared to apply to himself. When I attempted to determine if the situation involved just himself or included other I received a
vague response. He (that may be an assumption) appeared to turn blond with absolutely no ability to resolve the problem within his
own community. He has not been on in over 24 hours unless he is on now. I am of the opinion, that dog won't hunt.. LVR

 

[greybeard]

can the cattle owner really drive the cattle to town and let them graze city hall and the lawns and yards and ball fields in town?

In late 60s-early 70s, it was not unusual to drive into Coldsprings Tx early in the morning (that was my old county seat) and see cows laid down on the lawn of the county courthouse.
There were cattle guards across the roads leading into town, and others across the f-m roads at the county lines, but they found their way around those.

 

[Dusty Britches]

what part is incorrect?
Texas IS an open range state.
I clearly stated 'it is up to the individual counties to decide whether to enact a stock law or not.

No, Texas is not an open range state. It varies by county. Go read the law.

 

[Cows Away]

The way I see it Cows Away has two options.

A. Go to the Home Owners Asso. and request a variance on the fence rule. It doesn't take a 6 foot tall privacy fence to keep the cows out. A 3 foot tall attractive picket fence would work.

B. If cows are in his yard they are probably in his neighbor's too. Get the neighbors together, maybe even the Home Owners Asso together and go to the county commissioners (or what ever elected officials he has) to request that their area be taken out of open range/fence out.

This is true. My neighbors have the same issue. I am thinking we should try to make the city to be no longer fence out. I don't have a clue as to why this has not already been done.

 

[Cows Away]

Okay, I'm gonna jump in here. I've lived in AZ twice with ridiculous CC&R's (every plant & gravel in your yard must be approved, can't park in your driveway for more than 48 consecutive hours, all window treatments facing the street must be beige or off-white, etc.) and I'm pretty shocked your Homeowner's Association isn't all over this. I would suggest contacting the Association President or someone on the Board, then contacting the Sheriff to find out just exactly what your rights are & that of the owner of the cattle. As previously mentioned, set up a game camera to identify any brands, tags or even a general description of the cattle. Do NOT go all "Yellowstone" and set out bales that may potentially harm them. And I wouldn't try to get them close with cubes or even an empty bucket - that would work with my herd, but I suspect these are more range cattle and you don't know how they'll react.

We do NOT have a Homeowner's Association. These are CCR's, not Association Rules. There is no Association to go to. These CCR's are being policed by the police. ( We do have the 48 hour parking rule, as well.)

 

[Cows Away]

It's not difficult to find out who the farmer-owner of the cattle are. Calculate the real amount of forage the cows are getting...be accurate and fair and then go to the owner with an invoice for the $15. to $45 worth of grass taken. Most cattle owners would pay or make amends to help you. It's not really the cows fault, not really the jurisdiction of the police or legal entities....talk to the cattle owner....he'll pay small invoices and maybe even bring you over cuts of prime beef....sounds like you have a lot of land. Do some research on cattle and how cool they are...relax and you might find you like having them grazing your lawn down...for myself i'd be delighted.

We have No Grass, just a few plants. They come and eat them to sticks. Once the plants recover, they come back and do it again. You never know when they will arrive.

 

[greybeard]

No, Texas is not an open range state. It varies by county. Go read the law.

The STATE definitely is. Most counties are not.

https://www.mwl-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/TEXAS-STOCK-LAWS-BY-COUNTY.pdf
https://texasfarmbureau.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FiveStrands_Bradbury-min.pdf
https://texasfarmbureau.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FiveStrands_Bradbury-min.pdf
Open Range vs. Closed Range
Texas is an open-range state, tracing its roots back to the trail drives and cattle barons of the 1800s. Open range means exactly that—livestock owners are not required to fence in their livestock to prevent them from roaming at large. The Texas Supreme Court supported the open-range policy more than a century ago when it stated, "if the cattle of one person wander upon the [unenclosed] lands of another…they are not trespassers, and the owner is not liable for any damage that they may inflict." 1 As recently as 1999, the Texas Supreme Court upheld this concept, holding that "t is the right of every owner of domestic animals in this state…to allow them to run at large." 2 While the common law of open range is still in effect, there are two exceptions: 1) the passage of local, county-based ordinances (stock laws), and 2) the development of U.S. and state highways, that have changed large portions of the state from open range to closed range.


https://agfax.com/2017/10/02/texas-ag-law-fannin-county-closed-range-or-open-range/

And by State statute, there are still a number of Texas counties that may never hold a county election to go "closed range". Andrews, Coke, Culberson, Hardin, Hemphill, Hudspeth, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kinney, LaSalle, Loving, Motley, Newton, Presidio, Roberts, Schleicher, Terry, Tyler, Upton, Wharton, or Yoakum

 

[TCRanch]

We do NOT have a Homeowner's Association. These are CCR's, not Association Rules. There is no Association to go to. These CCR's are being policed by the police. ( We do have the 48 hour parking rule, as well.)

Gotcha. How long have you lived there? And how long has this been going on?

 

[Cows Away]

Gotcha. How long have you lived there? And how long has this been going on?

We've only been here a year (California escapees) and it has been for the whole time. The plants were put in when we moved in. One morning, they had been eaten down. We never had a clue this could happen before we moved. Questioning neighbors, we then found it happens to them, too.

Since we moved in, we've seen cows infrequently come into the neighborhood long after dark. We've seen a police car herd them out onto open land, then have their dog spread them out and away. (Both police and highway patrol officers live in this subdivision.)

We feel it's our own fault that we didn't question neighbors more thoroughly before we moved, so we need to deal with the issue, lawfully.

 

[Travlr]

We've only been here a year (California escapees) and it has been for the whole time. The plants were put in when we moved in. One morning, they had been eaten down. We never had a clue this could happen before we moved. Questioning neighbors, we then found it happens to them, too.

Since we moved in, we've seen cows infrequently come into the neighborhood long after dark. We've seen a police car herd them out onto open land, then have their dog spread them out and away. (Both police and highway patrol officers live in this subdivision.)

We feel it's our own fault that we didn't question neighbors more thoroughly before we moved, so we need to deal with the issue, lawfully.

Just to play Devil's advocate... could you adjust your thinking to not just tolerate the animals but enjoy them? Most of the people here actually LIKE their cattle. Do you feed birds or any other kind of wildlife?

I understand that you have an investment in your property, but could you landscape with plants cows won't eat?

We had our house and buildings fenced in the middle of our property... and we kept finding "deposits" in the yard. One day when I came home early I caught one of my favorite cows, a big Santa Gertrudis, tiptoeing sideways through the cattle guard like a ballerina. It reminded me of that Disney movie with the hippos in tutus. She saw me, hesitated for a long moment as I could see her wheels turning, and then reversed and carefully backed out into the pasture... with a sheepish look on her face.

I know you are stuck right now on your outrage, and I understand that... but you could choose to think differently. You might even enjoy it.

 

[Allenw]

Couple square bales of high nitrate hay might have an effect if one wants them gone. No law against mulching with hay.

Only if you can force them to eat high nitrate hay and nothing else.

 

[Cows Away]

Just to play Devil's advocate... could you adjust your thinking to not just tolerate the animals but enjoy them? Most of the people here actually LIKE their cattle. Do you feed birds or any other kind of wildlife?

I understand that you have an investment in your property, but could you landscape with plants cows won't eat?

We had our house and buildings fenced in the middle of our property... and we kept finding "deposits" in the yard. One day when I came home early I caught one of my favorite cows, a big Santa Gertrudis, tiptoeing sideways through the cattle guard like a ballerina. It reminded me of that Disney movie with the hippos in tutus. She saw me, hesitated for a long moment as I could see her wheels turning, and then reversed and carefully backed out into the pasture... with a sheepish look on her face.

I know you are stuck right now on your outrage, and I understand that... but you could choose to think differently. You might even enjoy it.

I wouldn't call it outrage. It's more frustration.

My Brother in Law drives a school bus. Occasionally, he has to sit for up to 45 minutes, waiting for the cows to move. (He's not allowed to get off the bus and scatter them and they ignore honking and lights.) They are basically a nuisance, not a predator.

As we are not present when they eat them, we only see the damage later, there is little to "enjoy". If we saw them, we'd stop them. We only see the after effects.

No, we don't intentionally feed other critters, neither. We have small dogs which take up plenty of time and resources.

We do enjoy looking at wildlife, except when it's eating our decorations.

We don't want to harm them, just keep them from eating our plants.

 

[farmerjan]

I think that the original poster needs a lawyer that is VERY FAMILIAR with the laws. I especially like the articles that @simme has found and quoted... I think that needs looking into by the OP and any legal representative they find. Get a few of the neighbors that have had this property problem together and see if they couldn't all get together on this if there is any chance this particular article would apply.

 

[Cows Away]

I think that the original poster needs a lawyer that is VERY FAMILIAR with the laws. I especially like the articles that @simme has found and quoted... I think that needs looking into by the OP and any legal representative they find. Get a few of the neighbors that have had this property problem together and see if they couldn't all get together on this if there is any chance this particular article would apply.

Yes, I think the city might be able to create a "non-fence out" area for the city. I don't know that one yet exists, nor why it doesn't, if it doesn't. (There is an area in this county which has a "non-fence out" area, but it belongs to a large corporation. It's the only "non-fence out" area I know of in this county.) It is one option I plan to look into.

 

[Son of Butch]

Yes, I think the city might be able to create a "non-fence out" area for the city. I don't know that one yet exists, nor why it doesn't, if it doesn't. (There is an area in this county which has a "non-fence out" area, but it belongs to a large corporation. It's the only "non-fence out" area I know of in this county.) It is one option I plan to look into.

I for one look forward to seeing you on Judge Judy lol
hmmm or has she retired?

 

[Travlr]

I wouldn't call it outrage. It's more frustration.

My Brother in Law drives a school bus. Occasionally, he has to sit for up to 45 minutes, waiting for the cows to move. (He's not allowed to get off the bus and scatter them and they ignore honking and lights.) They are basically a nuisance, not a predator.

As we are not present when they eat them, we only see the damage later, there is little to "enjoy". If we saw them, we'd stop them. We only see the after effects.

No, we don't intentionally feed other critters, neither. We have small dogs which take up plenty of time and resources.

We do enjoy looking at wildlife, except when it's eating our decorations.

We don't want to harm them, just keep them from eating our plants.

Well then consult a good plantsman or horticulturist, and plant things cattle won't eat?

 

[simme]

Since we moved in, we've seen cows infrequently come into the neighborhood long after dark. We've seen a police car herd them out onto open land, then have their dog spread them out and away. (Both police and highway patrol officers live in this subdivision.)

I think the first step is to talk to the police that live in the subdivision. They will most likely know where the cows come from and should know the law and rules for your area. At the very least, they will be able to explain the situation and issues to you and help to understand the history and give advice. And you will establish line of communication with your neighbors and the police at the same time.

 

[MurraysMutts]

California escapee...


I've got calves roaming the neighbors yards right now. Droughted out. No grass. Hot wire ain't working.
Neighbors love it!

If I were you, I'd go back to California, rather than try and make your new place just like the place you left.
Problem solved