Lost cow/heifer

snoopdog

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Joined
Mar 25, 2017
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City & State/Province
ne oklahoma
Had a really nice gert/bm (guess) heifer show up out of thin air, obviously in heat. None of the immediate neighbors are missing her , she does have a generic tag. None of the fences down as far as I can tell , though I didn't walk the whole line that borders some rough country . I hate to put an ad on fb or cl because of the scammers and don't really want to try and get the herd up just to catch her, especially since I don't know if she's going to tear up a bunch of stuff . Ive decided just to wait and see if anyone is looking for her, and if they are, just offer to buy her. What would you do?
 
I'd call the Sheriff. At least in my county they post lost/found. And then I'd call the local vet; they post lost/found on their Facebook page & spread the word. Neither provide specific info up front so you're relatively safe from scammers. OR congrats on your new heifer! ;-)
 
I would notify the "local authorities" that an estray has shown up at my place and that if the (alleged) owner reports her missing and is able to identify her, then they come and get her. I would also be inclined to 'mention' it at the local feed place, and 'spread' the word with the neighbors. BUT, I would not be giving out the info as to exactly what she looks like, tag, etc. The supposed owner would need to provide that info.

I say this, because I had a red heifer show up here, a number of years ago. The nearest neighbors didn't own her. I spread the word (so to speak), and finally found the rightful owner. He came and got her a couple of weeks later. She was wild as a buck! Limousine.
 
All good advice , thanks . I don't know why calling the sheriff didn't dawn on me, our guys have to deal with a lot of livestock issues. I really don't want to deal with them , but I know how I'd feel if it were one of mine.
 
snoopdog":m454xtsb said:
All good advice , thanks . I don't know why calling the sheriff didn't dawn on me, our guys have to deal with a lot of livestock issues. I really don't want to deal with them , but I know how I'd feel if it were one of mine.
You might be surprised at the lengths the Sheriff Dept/Deputies will go. We had an oil well "incident" that involved filing a Sheriff report and had to move cattle from that pasture to another. Deputies not only blocked the road with their squad cars, they helped me move them - including catching a wayward heifer that double backed & made it out the one spot that was accessible to freedom. Workinonit's suggestion of mentioning to your local feed place/Coop is great! I know I've never been in one where there isn't a party around the barrel of peanuts & coffee station!
 
TCRanch":d750oru9 said:
snoopdog":d750oru9 said:
All good advice , thanks . I don't know why calling the sheriff didn't dawn on me, our guys have to deal with a lot of livestock issues. I really don't want to deal with them , but I know how I'd feel if it were one of mine.
You might be surprised at the lengths the Sheriff Dept/Deputies will go. We had an oil well "incident" that involved filing a Sheriff report and had to move cattle from that pasture to another. Deputies not only blocked the road with their squad cars, they helped me move them - including catching a wayward heifer that double backed & made it out the one spot that was accessible to freedom. Workinonit's suggestion of mentioning to your local feed place/Coop is great! I know I've never been in one where there isn't a party around the barrel of peanuts & coffee station!
Naw TC, They try hard, just my inherent distrust after a few encounters , in which I was wrong . We have a great feedstore/popcorn group ! Even though I'm not a member , I eavesdrop sometimes .
 
All we do is mention it to our local sheriff dept., and make a few phone calls to adjoining neighbors that have cattle. Have had several of ours get over on a neighbor, and vice versa over the years. So if we are missing we call, and if we find any we make a few calls.... then just wait. Had one show up a year later at a neighbors, next to a summer pasture we use....they called us and yes it was mine, and they got her in their barn with their bulls, and called & I went & got her. Crazy wild from running loose along the power lines and woods; was going to sell her but in less than a week she was coming in the barn like everyone else and has raised 2 calves and due with another. Don't know why she wanted to run loose with no company. The local "hunt club" had seen her in the woods a couple times and said she would take off like a deer.....Then she went looking for company with their bulls so we got her back....preg and then settled right down. WEIRD.
Wound up with a bull calf once -500 - or so lbs, in with our breeding heifers and no one ever claimed him, so we shipped him at the end of the summer with an open heifer and some steers from another place. Must've had him 4 months. Our heifers were all bred by our bull according to the amount of time they were preg....... maybe he smelled the open one that was still cycling????
 
snoopdog":38gbw2l0 said:
What would you do?
Providing you reside in a brand inspection state (typically managed by the respective state's Dept of Ag), you'd call the local brand inspector (regardless of whether or not the heifer was branded). In a nutshell, the BI would inspect her, file an estray report and depending on your desire the animal is either immediately shipped to the closest sale yard or you can opt to have her remain at your place and after a reasonable time frame (usually a few weeks) an owner is located, be reimbursed for her upkeep.
 
76 Bar":rq13xhqn said:
ALACOWMAN":rq13xhqn said:
Y'all know the type corral...made of material, suitable for picture framing...
:roll: The internet is flooded with a million uses for pallets but I've yet to see a pallet corral. :lol:

A neighbor has one for Jersey cross calves. Seems to work, but I then they don't have any ear. ;-)
 
Works good for any of the bottle / nurse calves. Have kept sheep in them, and pigs (for a short period of time until they learn to dig under). It all depends on the attitude and handleability of the calves. But.... would not recommend them for anything long term, unless they are well used to be handled and fed like dairy type bottle calves.
 
We did contact the sheriff and made a report, still no news, 7.00 a day for upkeep. She still eyeballs me pretty good while feeding
 
Hook2.0":27npy2qg said:
76 Bar":27npy2qg said:
ALACOWMAN":27npy2qg said:
Y'all know the type corral...made of material, suitable for picture framing...
:roll: The internet is flooded with a million uses for pallets but I've yet to see a pallet corral. :lol:
There’s a hippie type “ranch” down the road where the entire exterior fence is pallets. Same place has annual camp outs that they advertise on Facebook etc. sunshine ranch I think it’s called.
sounds like a dope smokin/nekid/free for all type place.
 
Here she is, came into the corral with the rest yesterday, she's put on several pounds in the last few weeks.
 

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