Anniebell: The Conclusion

[TinMan]

and then I lost a cow...or else she was stolen...You think the universe is trying to tell me something?

Yesterday a sweet little 10 month old Dutch Belted heifer was delivered to my place. I gave the man the final payment, he gave me my cow and all was well.

Just last week I'd put the finishing touches on a nice little milking/weather shed, and only yesterday morning had hand washed her water trough within an inch of its life to ensure it was pristine for her. Plenty of grass for her to munch on and plans to go to the local hay broker were on the agenda for today. I was doing my utter (or udder) best to make it cowtopia.

So this morning my oldest girl asks if she can go out and see Annabelle. I tell her sure. About 5 minutes later she comes back saying she can't find her. Now I had just checked on her at about 2am last night (Yes, I'm that kind of an owner...I know, I know, I sound like a goober, but I wanted to make sure she was settling in ok) and she was roaming around, but basically all seemed well and it was 8am when my daughter when out.

We live in a subdivision where the smallest of lots are still just over 2 acres so traffic abounds and DBs definitely stick out, in fact, I heard one passerby slow down to comment upon her. I was quite proud of my little beauty.

But I digress...so I jump into my shoes and go look for her, figuring she's just hiding in the tall grass that's near some trees (we have had a LOT of rain and my mower isn't working so it's literally a jungle out there)...Scoured the place...nope no cow.

There was one spot near the corner of my gate that look a bit bent and found some hair on it...but I'm not sure if she'd have jumped it...or why she would have...it was taller than her (only about 4ft field fencing, but what could have made her want out THAT bad).

I contacted that guy I got her from and he assured me he'd never had a problem with her jumping fences...in fact, his fences were no taller than my own...I think the only difference is that he may have had hot-wire around his and I didn't.

I'm at a loss...I've notified the local sheriff, though I don't think it will do much good, I figured it couldn't hurt.

There's not many other cattle in the area...plenty of horses...one steer across the street from me that I believe the guy is raising to butcher...I've driven and walked every inch of the place I could think of and found no sign of her...I'm only taking a break to post here, because I pulled a muscle walking on the uneven terrain.

Anyone know if DBs are problem jumpers? I talked to the guy about it, and he said no...then again, he was trying to sell a cow...If she is a jumper, and I eventually find her, then I'm in real trouble, because there's no way I can think of to keep her in...I guess I could try the hot wire trick, but hate to go that route...if she was stolen, then I'm out of luck anyway.

Sorry for the rambling...I'm in a bit of shock at the loss and at all the headache/heartache this seemingly innocent project has become to me.

I snapped some photos of her yesterday...I'll post them on here a bit later...Guess I'm back out to go see if she's hiding in some trees somewhere.

[nina]

She probably jumped out. Cows don't like being alone and take a bit to settle into a new place. I would check the field where the steer is or ask the owner of the steer if he penned her up somewhere or look in your neighborhood for cows. Every single time one of my cows got loose they were heading for the neighbor's cow field. Ordinary fences will not stop a determined cow. If you are walking on foot in a wooded area the cow will just walk ahead of you and you'll never see her if she doesn't want to be seen so its possible she is still in your field. I doubt she was stolen. When you get her back keep her in a small pen like a round pen with a higher fence than 4 ft till she settles. You might consider keeping 2 cows. Also if you're looking in dense woods/vegetation listen very carefully instead of looking and walking. I found black cows much harder to spot and the belted coloring might stand out in a field but the shadows hide dark cows. Its surprising how quiet cows are in the woods. If you start out saying your cow is stolen people will be afraid to hold her in their field if they see her. On the off chance she was stolen check out your local auctions.

[Debbie Lincoln]

A single cow in a new place will try to leave. And a 4' fence is nothing. Keep driving around. She is somewhere in someone's pasture. Bring her home and have a taller metal pen (portable panels) ready to hold her for a week until she settles in.

[AnnB (NE)]

If she was used to being around other cattle, she's likely went in search of her herd. I would expect her to show up at one of your cattle-owning neighbors.
I'd put up flyers around the neighborhood, call your local radio stations, and notify your local salebarn and put up flyers there too.

A young heifer like her can put a champion show jumper to shame! I'd fix up a smaller, taller containment pen to put her in for a couple of weeks, when you track her down.

Ann B

[tonitx]

Oh no!  I hope you find her.  I'm assuming she was with other cows before she came to you - maybe she went looking for another cow?  

What part of SA do you live in?  I'm originally from Castroville (west of SA), but live in west Texas now.

[eljay]

Well I congratulate you on her even if she isn't there at the moment. I hope you can find her soon.

[Manda]

When I first got my Jersey Heifer she was about your heifers age. Mine jumped and bend a cattle panel! thats 4 foot tall. I am not sure what possessed her to jump it but it bent down about a foot and she managed to scramble out without busting a leg. She never escaped for over a year after that. About 18 months later I butchered a bull she was with and about 2 weeks later there was she walking around my sidewalk at 8am in the snow. I could see where she was ALL over that morning but again, she scaled a 4 foot tall fence but this time she cleared it. I got her a heifer buddy and she has returned to being my sweet cow My guess is your girl jumped her fence and is looking for a buddy

[jerseyrose]

I hope you find her soon. I agree with everyone else that she went in search of company.

[erink]

Last summer my cow busted out, too. She left her calf behind, teamed up with 3 other rogue cows from the farm a mile away (who swung by to pick her up??), and was found at another neighbours little horse farm. Because she was tame and had a halter on, the neighbour put her into her barn for us and we walked over to pick her up. The other 3 cows were still on the loose.

Now just a few days ago her heifer, now a yearling, led a great escape.

Both times it was because the culprit was in heat. And both times having a halter left on them made it easier to get them back in. (I use breakaway halters just in case, and they're not in a lot of bush so I'm not too worried about them getting hung up on their halters).

I hope you find your heifer! And I'm sure you will - like others have said she's probably looking for company. And maybe in heat too?

Good luck but don't worry, you'll find her!

[canesisters]

And maybe, once she's home, hang an ID tag on her halter (and a bell)?

"This is Maggie,she's running the streets again looking for a good time.
Please call me and I'll come get her
555-123-4567"

[canesisters]

By the way.... my girl is alone.. I have a mix of wood fence and electric (some both, some just electric).
She's coming up on 10 months old.
Should I start to worry about escapes??
Have any of the ones yall have mentioned happend with electric fence?

[TinMan]

Good info on the likelihood of escape at this age...Probably info I should have acquired sooner rather than later...that's my bad.

Any tips on how to find her...No halter on her, and she was a bit shy...it was my plan to work with her and tame her a bit...sadly, that plan didn't include search over half the state for her beforehand.

[donna12345]

Oh boy, not knowing what is up. We have (had) calfs in field bordering woods that have never been a counted for. No bones, no hide,nor hair.mom not concerned. 5 ft. Tall web fencing. How can a cayote get it over? When you find your missing sock in washing machine , see if mine are there . Truely, another complex issue.keep us updated. Yours is serious as was future family plan.

[Jenn]

First off, I just want to say how proud I am of you taking that first step. You were never going to know it all before getting one, I am sorry that this first experience has been a doozy.

ALL cows/heifers behave differently at new places than they do at home....until they get settled in. A smaller, more secure area is always a good idea, as others have mentioned. Depending on the cow, it could take a few days or longer. Miss Swiss paced back and forth for what seemed like forever, a couple weeks any way.

Fortunately, a DB is going to stick out amongst anyone else's animals, assuming no ill intent, you should be able to get her back.

-Jenn

[texascockatoos]

Hey Mick,

You have 1 thing on your side and that is she is very distinct. It's not like you are looking for a brown cow among the neighbors field. Dollars to donuts she is in a field with another herd (and hopefully one without a bull). Print a bunch of fliers and start posting on poles and putting in mailboxes. Also notify the auction houses and local vets.


Cathy

[corrae]

Well…do you have a brand inspector? In Colorado, the first thing I'd do w/a missing critter--cow/horse--is call the sheriff and brand inspector. You can google your state brand board, find your local inspector, and tell him of your wayward heifer. When you get her home, lock her up good and tight, and go around all your fencing with a taut strand of electric. That will keep her respectful and in…and you also need to keep her close to get her tame. Good luck, @tinman…You'll find her, you'll see.

Here's a list of the stock inspectors for Texas. Contact the appropriate person.

www.tscra.org/theft-law/find-ranger-market-inspector.html#.VYsMe_2c7wI

[texascockatoos]

See if you can find someone with a gopro camera that can fly overhead looking for her.

maybe jerseylovinliz will have some suggestions.

[nina]

I forgot to mention I lost my first cow a jersey doing the same thing. She however just jumped 2 fences ours then the neighbor' and was easy to find. She easily cleared both fences with a full udder. Did you look for tracks where you think she jumped? Later on I started buying beef calves which I would turn out in a very large country type pasture. Occasionally a more adventuresome calf would escape. (water gate, tree fell on fence some kind of opening would appear as its hard to check a long fence line) When one of those calves got out it would either follow the herd on the wrong side of the fence or figure out how to get into my neighbor's herd. When there are hundreds of acres involved you need to think like a cow. They won't follow roads but most likely will head straight to the nearest cow as the crow flies. You found a bent fence area, use that as your guide and think what is in a straight line along that path. Look down for droppings footprints or some kind of proof which direction she was going. Look online for satellite images of your property to see bordering properties and you might just find the farm she is sitting at. Please let us know when you find her. Nothing is worse than losing an animal and having no idea what's become of them.

[Vikki]

That's awful, I'm so sorry. I hope she is ok, just grazing with her new neighbors. I hope you find her soon.

[donnaclyde47]

That is just awful! So sorry! I would definitely put one strand of electric around your fence line. All she needs is one shock and she'll never try to get out again. Premier One has a great solar charger and electric rope. We have 20 paddocks set up with just one strand that our cows rotationally graze on and I love it.

It would also help if she had a buddy! Again, SO sorry!