Dang neighbor's bull

[Dusty Britches]

Long story - short.

The neighbor's bull keeps getting into our pasture. He jumps in and takes the top wire down with him. It's a no wonder, too. We've got great pastures and good looking cows. That bull has weeds and ugly cows.

We've called the neighbor to get him, but we usually push the bull back on our own. The neighbor never calls back and he only comes out on the weekends. The guy is a young feller and claims to be a day rider for a few local ranches. We're not even sure the bull is his. We think he is borrowing it. Last year he had a huge brangus bull that never came calling.

Any ideas to stop this?

 

[J]

If it were me I'd pen that sucker up and keep track of the amount of feed, water and hay you have to give him. After a while whoever owns him will come looking for him. Then give the owner a bill for keeping his bull. I'd even consider a charge for my time as well as fence repair. I don't usually like to make enemies with my neighbors but sometimes it helps if you get their attention. Maybe the charges are alittle extreme I'll let you decide, but if he can't find his bull for a few days maybe he'll start paying a little more attention.

 

[J]

When I was younger my dad and grandfather were clearing off a pretty good sized chunk of land, digging a lake and pretty much just makin a mess on our place. For a few nights the local kids were coming out and doin some mud-doggin on about 50 acres cause the fence row was cleared and they had a way in. One morning my dad looked out and saw a truck stuck out there, he went and pulled it to the barn and when the kids came for it he said the only way he would let it go was if the owner came to get it. Well their DAD :x showed up a little later and I remember us getting a little free labor out of the deal. :lol: (maybe you can get some of the same for your fence?)

 

[1848]

If it were me I'd pen that sucker up and keep track of the amount of feed, water and hay you have to give him. After a while whoever owns him will come looking for him. Then give the owner a bill for keeping his bull. I'd even consider a charge for my time as well as fence repair. I don't usually like to make enemies with my neighbors but sometimes it helps if you get their attention. Maybe the charges are alittle extreme I'll let you decide, but if he can't find his bull for a few days maybe he'll start paying a little more attention.

Make sure you are legally within in rights before you do this! He "IS" your neighbor. As long as you have done everything neighborly possible, here is some suggestions.

#1 If I penned him it would be for the time legal to claim ownership. (including an ad), then I would load him up and make him buy him back from the salebarn!..and guess who pockets the coin!

#2 Of course you could wait until he finally injures himself or hangs in the fence and forget to do anything about it! :shock:

#3 Try talking to him about you cost involved, and that you don't appreciate it, then see if he is willing to split the cost of fence repairs, pasture eaten, and loss due to cows being bred buy his bull. If he dosn't like this or don't care, then you can recoup your cost by selling him in the salebarn yourself! Make sure he knows your intentions. (with a witness by you) and keep track of the losses to prove them leagally. He may not like going to the sale barn to get his bull back and/ or pay the handling charges!

#4 Depending on the laws pertaining to nuisance of another persons uncontrolled stock in your area (call the sheriff)....shoot em!

#5...and my favorite!

Show him a gate to the highway next time, and tell the owner the last time you saw him he was heading west! :lol:

 

[Dusty Britches]

It gets better - this guy last year burned some brush piles. No big deal. But 3 weeks later we were under a short burn ban and he turns the piles over. They were still hot and it set the pasture on fire. Which, in turn, blew into our pasture, burning down a 50 yard section of fence.

We called the fire department, grabbed shovels, and wet sacks and headed over. The fire department showed up 45 minutes later, cut our fence and drove onto his pasture about the time he realized his pasture was on fire. The neighbor came back with his dozer and pushed dirt to stop the flames. My husband has a disability and when he gets hot, he looses his coordination. After all was said and done, my husband was standing in the middle of this guy's pasture, unable to walk. We drove over and picked him up, asking the neighbor to help us fix the fence. The neighbor and his wife were dressed up to go to a team roping. They headed to their house and we never saw them again. They never apologized or helped us fix the fence. I guess team roping was more important than fixing relationships with neighbors.

Appearently, he treats the other neighbors the same way. His philosophy is, "Possession is 9/10 of the law." He still has one of my other neighbor's cows, after 3 months.

We may not have the best fences, but we've never had a problem with the other bulls. And our bull never goes over there.

 

[1848]

Almost forgot! Don't admit to letting him "out" on the highway! Could be serious repercutions there! Especially if it is a State rd!

 

[1848]

It gets better - this guy last year burned some brush piles. No big deal. But 3 weeks later we were under a short burn ban and he turns the piles over. They were still hot and it set the pasture on fire. Which, in turn, blew into our pasture, burning down a 50 yard section of fence.

We called the fire department, grabbed shovels, and wet sacks and headed over. The fire department showed up 45 minutes later, cut our fence and drove onto his pasture about the time he realized his pasture was on fire. The neighbor came back with his dozer and pushed dirt to stop the flames. My husband has a disability and when he gets hot, he looses his coordination. After all was said and done, my husband was standing in the middle of this guy's pasture, unable to walk. We drove over and picked him up, asking the neighbor to help us fix the fence. The neighbor and his wife were dressed up to go to a team roping. They headed to their house and we never saw them again. They never apologized or helped us fix the fence. I guess team roping was more important than fixing relationships with neighbors.

Appearently, he treats the other neighbors the same way. His philosophy is, "Possession is 9/10 of the law." He still has one of my other neighbor's cows, after 3 months.

We may not have the best fences, but we've never had a problem with the other bulls. And our bull never goes over there.

After reading this I would say use option #4, , then send him a judgment, filed in the court, for all the damages! Citing history of course!

 

[Brandonm2]

Don't pen the bull and charge the guy. It sounds like you have nicer cows and a nicer place than him. Don't kick the little people even when they deserve it; because some of them will hit you a lot harder than you can ever hit them. I got into it with some local dog hunters once who ignored my 'no tresspassing signs' and I ended up with my fences cut (repeatedly), a bulldozer radiator shot, gates shot up, a dog stolen, and 9 animals shot and many days spent tracking down the terrified survivors. Naturally the deputy laughed whenever he came out and nobody ever served any jail time. My advice is to run an electric wire down the fence with the neighbor and then go buy the biggest horned bull you can find, preferably one who's horns were never turned down. Let his bull get badly scarred up and I can guarantee you that he won't be able to borrow any more bulls. I know how to deal with any fourlegged animals. In my experience, it is the wars with the two legged animals that are the fights which really cost you.

 

[1848]

In my experience, it is the wars with the two legged animals that are the fights which really cost you.

Yes, That's why you should do everything neighborly possible up front.

 

[milesvb]

Naturally the deputy laughed whenever he came out and nobody ever served any jail time.

Now THAT is disturbing. Sounds like your local law enforcement operates under the "good o'l boy" legal principal. :roll:

 

[bobrammer]

I think I'd just run a simple hot wire along the top of the fence.
Not very expensive, but should get the bull's attention.

 

[denoginnizer]

The best thing to put between you and your neighbor is a good strong fence. Wire is cheap compared to all the trouble a bad relationship with a neigbor can cause. If it was me I would biuld a a supper strong fence and be done with it. A little bit of money/labor and alot of piece of mind.

 

[Brandonm2]

Now THAT is disturbing. Sounds like your local law enforcement operates under the "good o'l boy" legal principal. :roll:

The sheriff is an old man who is just serving this last term term to get the pension (as was that deputy) and there had been 4 officers killed in the line of duty (plus one suicide) in this county during that same period of time so I can sort of understand that my problems really seemed minor by comparison. Later when drug dealers assassinated a young lady on my family's property (more people ignoring the posted signs), the authorities did do a really good job of recovering most of the body and catching those guys.

 

[BC]

I would follow the avice about putting a hot wire around the top of your fence. Get a good charger and maske sure it is gounded well.

I am a little leary of selling the bull unless you sold him in the neighbors name. You could be accused of theft if sold in your name.

 

[flaboy]

Dusty, it must be an Angus bull? As far as advice, good fences make good neighbors. I know it will cost you to keep his stuff out but it may well be worth it. A good electric fence doesn't cost too much. If the area is not too long put up several strands of electric wire on his side. If he tears that down, remove the electric charger and plug your hot wire into a 115VAC outlet. I promise if that bull ever touches that wire he will never come back to that fence. :shock:

 

[LegacyBreeder]

A .410 shotgun at maximum range is a great way of motivating a bull. Just make sure that you don't hurt him! Yeah, its a bit drastic, but after a while of getting their backsides peppered they learn not to come back.

Best bet with your neighbor is to watch your cattle and keep your fences tight. One thing that is always true is that if they've never given a damn, they'll never give a damn. Its a pity... truly good neighbors are getting harder to find these days.

 

[Dusty Britches]

Dusty, it must be an Angus bull?

Ha, ha - you're funny :lol: Nope. My bull is Angus, but his bull is a Charolais. One neighbor has Angus bulls and the other has a big black cross bred bull.

 

[tg]

The best thing to put between you and your neighbor is a good strong fence. Wire is cheap compared to all the trouble a bad relationship with a neigbor can cause. If it was me I would biuld a a supper strong fence and be done with it. A little bit of money/labor and alot of piece of mind.

Good advice its a shame you have to spend hard money because of sorry people, but in the long run it is proberly cheaper then the trouble they can cause you.

 

[Susie David]

I can understand how you feel...we had a similair problem this past week only it was our bull that went visiting and took some steers with him...spent the morning collecting and seperating cows and restringing wire, put in an extra run of electric.
If you use the 110v method make sure that you use the black wire and a slow-blow circuit breaker to get his attention...remember that cattle are less tollerant of electric shock than humans...could kill the animal.

 

[denoginnizer]

I can understand how you feel...we had a similair problem this past week only it was our bull that went visiting and took some steers with him...spent the morning collecting and seperating cows and restringing wire, put in an extra run of electric.
If you use the 110v method make sure that you use the black wire and a slow-blow circuit breaker to get his attention...remember that cattle are less tollerant of electric shock than humans...could kill the animal.

Is it a proven fact that cattle are less tollerent than humans to electric shock? Just curious