if a cow's dying in a field--(right/wrong question from non-cow owner)

[Skyesrocket]

it was just a few miles from my home and i saw it every day for five days.

Did you get ahold of the owner or sheriff or anyone to let them know what was going on?​

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

I don't know anything about cows but I have always taken the better safe than sorry route and ask for help about the situation while it is happening. I would rather look like an ass, concerned citizen, pain in the butt or whatever anyone would think of me than feel guilty about not doing something. Anytime I have ever called animal services or brought an animal into a shelter the people were more often than not helpful and appreciative. You could maybe just call animal services in your area in the future and ask what they think of the situation at hand. I have been very very wrong about what I thought was the "right" thing to do in the past and glad I called before acting. It was regarding moving what I thought was an abandoned at risk baby animal to a shelter, but turns out it was normal for it to be left by the mother for certain periods of time and sure enough after sticking around for a couple hours mama came back and everything was ok. Sorry you had to see that, suffering animals always pull at my heartstrings....

 

[Katy]

Quote:
How do you know they don't interact with their cattle? Do you drive around and watch them 24/7?

It's much better for a calf to be born on it's own without interaction.

Our cows prefer being outside, not penned in a barn. As long as cattle have shelter from the wind they are better off outside.

Where do you get your cattle facts? Obviously not from someone who actually raises them.

 

[haTHOR]

ok, didn't mean to start a fight...i really don't care if beef cattle owners interact with their cows or whatever, no offense. i just think there should be some standard about ending the suffering of an animal. glad to hear some suggestions. i hope i never see anything like that again but i will probably try to help in some way if i ever do--the sheriff would have been a good start. perhaps the owner somehow didn't know and i could have done him or her a favor by calling.

i just didn't have the gumption to start driving down country roads and knocking on doors to try to help. maybe i should have. the nearest neighbors were 1-2 miles away, but i guess i should have.

ugh. now i feel like i was irresponsible too.

lesson learned, i guess.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
More than likely the nearest neighbors to the field could have told you who the owner was......I could tell you who owns the cows for many miles around our farm.....and if I didn't know I could find out in short order.

A couple of years ago two women stopped, all upset because they thought something was wrong with one of my cows. It happened to be a cow that chose a spot near the fence to calve. I was watching her with binoculars from my kitchen window. They just didn't get why I didn't go running out the door to help her.....well, she didn't need my help, but they didn't understand that.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
How do you know they don't interact with their cattle? Do you drive around and watch them 24/7?

It's much better for a calf to be born on it's own without interaction.

Our cows prefer being outside, not penned in a barn. As long as cattle have shelter from the wind they are better off outside.

Where do you get your cattle facts? Obviously not from someone who actually raises them.

Katy I'm not looking for an argument, just stating how it is out here. This is the northwest, not a place of well bred cattle and caring people, sadly. The owners I talk to all the time, and ask them about their cattle all the time. They just don't have the time do go out there because the husband is getting too old and also deaf, and the wife. . . I don't know how to describe her. She's kind of distant, and doesn't like animals much. They hire someone else to do the butchering.

As for the "cattle facts" - Most backyard raised, poorly pedigreed beef cattle don't last long. Especially bulls. One of our neighbors has to replace their bull every 3 years because their hips give out, and after a while simply walking is too much for them. And they actually don't know much on cattle anyway. I once mentioned AI to them, and they gave me a puzzled look - I explained how you can actually make money off of the semen from your bulls. They had no clue people did that. They didn't even know breeds of cattle beyond Hereford and Angus.

I myself am more experienced with athletic breeds like Corriente, fighting cattle, and Watusi. They naturally should live well beyond 20 years, and almost never have hip, leg, or weight problems. They're not bred for their carcass weight, after all.

So what I am talking about is out here, where breeding is poor and care is minimal. Most cattle owners out here just do it for some resulting beef, and nothing more.

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
Sorry did not see your second post, sounds like a bad deal. Most cattle would be checked on a very regular basis. I have had folks go by my pasture and freak because a horse was laying in the sun. Sounds like this was much different.

 

[haTHOR]

katy-regarding your calving story--i have no problem with that. i would have maybe stopped a ways away so my kids could see a birth, but i don't think anything of that. i have had my babes at home and think that if things can go natural and unhindered in birth generally, it's the best for everyone involved.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

Most cattle farmers are involved with their livestock and would want to know if one of their cows was down.
BUT I do have a neighbor who could care less. He let both a new born calf and the mom die and he still hasnt removed them from the field, so everyday on my way to and from to down, I get to see decaying cattle.
But I know he is a rare case, most other cattle farmers are out in the fields often and actually care for their cattle.
My other neighbors have several hundred head of cattle and all do well. They've had the same bulls for several years, check on their cattle often,call the vet if needed.
Cattle care all depends on the person and how they view the cattle.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
How do you know they don't interact with their cattle? Do you drive around and watch them 24/7?

It's much better for a calf to be born on it's own without interaction.

Our cows prefer being outside, not penned in a barn. As long as cattle have shelter from the wind they are better off outside.

Where do you get your cattle facts? Obviously not from someone who actually raises them.

Katy I'm not looking for an argument, just stating how it is out here. This is the northwest, not a place of well bred cattle and caring people, sadly. The owners I talk to all the time, and ask them about their cattle all the time. They just don't have the time do go out there because the husband is getting too old and also deaf, and the wife. . . I don't know how to describe her. She's kind of distant, and doesn't like animals much. They hire someone else to do the butchering. so you are making your judgement on how everyone in the NW treats their cattle by how your one neighbor treats theirs?

As for the "cattle facts" - Most backyard raised, poorly pedigreed beef cattle don't last long. Especially bulls. One of our neighbors has to replace their bull every 3 years because their hips give out, and after a while simply walking is too much for them. And they actually don't know much on cattle anyway. I once mentioned AI to them, and they gave me a puzzled look - I explained how you can actually make money off of the semen from your bulls. They had no clue people did that. They didn't even know breeds of cattle beyond Hereford and Angus.

I don't know anyone who raises cattle in their backyard.

Most bulls are sold every 3 or 4 years because you don't want them breeding their daughters and granddaughters. I've never yet seen a bull who's hips have given out....and I've seen a lot of bulls over the years. A mature bull has a "lumbering" walk but that doesn't mean their hips are giving out.

Unless you have a high dollar bull no one is going to pay you anything for your bull's semen.

I myself am more experienced with athletic breeds like Corriente, fighting cattle, and Watusi. They naturally should live well beyond 20 years, and almost never have hip, leg, or weight problems. They're not bred for their carcass weight, after all.

how many years have you been raising them?

So what I am talking about is out here, where breeding is poor and care is minimal. Most cattle owners out here just do it for some resulting beef, and nothing more.

You never answered my question....Where do you get your cattle info from because some of it is so far off base it's laughable. Have you personally ever raised cattle?