> As far as predators go, I don't
> know about lions, and have not had
> trouble with coyotes (so far). I
> live in east texas and over the
> years have lost a couple cows and
> their calves to mexican buzzards.
> We barely got there in time to
> save one cow and calf where they
> had bitten chunks out of the
> calf's hooves while it was being
> born. The cows were calving in the
> daytime and had some trouble. It
> was only three or four buzzards
> that I saw on one cow, but that
> was enough to kill the calf, and
> they butchered up a downed cow so
> badly that she bled to death
> before I could get back there with
> my gun. The most despicable thing
> was that after the cow was dead,
> they left the carcass alone!! Just
> wanted the fresh meat or blood, I
> guess. A memory that I try to
> forget was the sight of a mama cow
> that had a dead half born calf
> with all the meat picked off the
> calf's head and front legs!! The
> chicken farmers used throw their
> dead chickens out in their
> pastures and that drew the
> buzzards. We keep a close check on
> all our cattle, but there sre
> still times when a few buzzards
> could get there first.
I have my pasture about 15 mile south of Greenville. The lady that own the land said the Mexican Buzzards were really bad about 10 years ago but the ranchers finally killed enough of them that the others left. I've noticed they started coming back last year. Truly a scarry sight when calving is happening. Just keep your 22 close at hand!
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