Rogue Cow

4 posts
Fri, 10/20/2017 - 11:22 #1

Member for

7 years 2 months
Armstrong Organics
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/20/2017 - 11:04

Rogue Cow

Hi.

 

I'm new to the forum.  My family and I run a small Scottish Highland Cattle, Poultry and Boer Goat operation out at Trunkey Creek NSW.

 

We recently had an enquiry by an owner of a heifer asking if her Scottish Highland cow can come visit our bull for a set service fee for 8 weeks.

 

Our family have never been asked this question but agreed because we like the thought of the Highland Breed continuing to grow.

 

The animal was dropped off into our yards then needed to be walked down a paddock and through a laneway to get to our other cattle.

 

It didn't make it that far.  The heifer charged at us, broke through our electric fences and ran through our farm.  We then found out afterwards that the cow was difficult to place into her trailer with 3 farmers helping at her farm.

 

Within an hour of the owner dropping the animal off and us doing everything possible to contain the cow (still lunch time), she decided she was going to go and leave us with the task of organising her troubled cow.

 

Long storey short, after trying a few attempts to herd the animal, I brought my stock to it thinking it would be happiest in a pack.

Having other cattle around also didn't help and the heifer once again stormed through fences.

 

After now one week with our cattle and gentle attempts to rear her up to our yards including leaving paddocks wide opened for 24 hours, the heifer still won't socialise with our stock and won't come anywhere near the trough or yards. 

 

The owner will not compensate us for our time, effort, eating our pasture, and the fact that the bull has already been servicing the cow.  She wants us to collect the animal so she can take it free of charge.

 

We can't contain the animal to ship it back to the owner, but the owner is not capable of putting the cow in the yards.

 

Really stuck with what to do.  Not sure if there are any animal agencies that can help take the animal.  It's not tagged or registered.  Or if there is anyone specialised in our area who can herd a non tame animal.

 

Hoping to not receive negative comments about letting other peoples animals on our farm.  We did it to help another farmer and as you all know, to try and keep some sort of income flowing on the farm.

 

Any information would be helpful.  Thankyou in advance.

 

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Sun, 10/22/2017 - 16:24 #2
cowbloke
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/14/2017 - 20:38

If it's not tagged it was illegal to move it onto your property in the first place.

 

Then there's the fact that you haven't read the owner very well at all, as well as risked the biosecurity of your own herd.

 

Sorry if you don't like the negative comments, but on a positive spin you can really learn something from this.

 

With my last post on another thread I don't want people to think I blow every problem away, but I'd tell her to come and get her crazy animal and pay to get the fences fixed before I a. Sue her for damages (expensive/may not succeed), b. Turn her animal out onto the road (you may be liable) or c. Shoot it as it is dangerous (she may sue or call RSPCA).

 

Favors and handshake deals often go south in farming, and you really need to only offer them to good neighbors and people you know or trust. Sadly people can be selfish and completely irresponsible with animals.

 

 

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Mon, 11/20/2017 - 14:18 #3
Sheep wash farm
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 11/20/2017 - 13:30
It’s her problem to remove the animal. Plus. As it is not tagged - check with the police re the timing of this... you can notify her writing to remove the animal within a set period, plus costs.. if not done so.. you keep it.. then I would say it should be killed. For 2 reasons... one bio security! Two.. it is a risk animal.. it can not be safely contained and if it got out it could kill someone by wandering down the road and hit a car! . I think her behaviour is negligent at least! .. I would also have a chat with your local rscpa and primary industries officers about her treatment of animals, ie Lack of tagging etc ...she will do it again.i agree with the other comment! Horrible lesson!
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Mon, 11/20/2017 - 15:43 #4
Armstrong Organics
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/20/2017 - 11:04

Thankyou for your comments.  We understand the bio security issues etc.  I was raised around farmers who respected each other and helped each other out and from a time when an agreement between 2 people was honoured.  We have a breed of cattle that isn't very common and therefore try our best to help those who also take interest in the Highlands.  After all we do farming for the sake of keeping particular breeds alive.

 

As an update after trying RSPCA we got told they wouldn't assist us.  We didn't want to take the matter to the police and also didn't want to do wrong by the animal itself.

 

We persisted in herding the animal, and finally the owner showed up with another party and was very insulting to say the least.  We spent a Sunday to herd the animal with them and finally got it in the yards and out of our property.

 

No compensation was paid but a very important lesson was learnt.  From now on our bloodlines will only leave our property in one way, and that's if our stock is purchased from us.  Definitely noone elses animals will ever enter our farm in the future.

 

We will continue to help people but now with limitations.  We still welcome people onto our farm to view the animals and to help get people into farming. 

 

Once again, thanks for your help.

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