Hello there - I have a problem on my hands. On my father's farm in the North of England UK there is a herd of 25 limousin cattle which we cannot get out the field, back to the farm and away to market. My father is 86 has worked the farm all his life and is ready to retire. The cattle have been in the field for the last 4 years and each attempt to remove them has been a failure. We've tried everything. The field is separated from the farm by what was once a quiet road and roundabout leading to the nearest town. We've successfully moved cattle with the help of neighbouring farmers backwards and forwards over this road for many years until now. Recent building development has caused this road to become a major commuting route and is now extremely busy which might be a cause of the animals reluctance to step out of the gate and onto the tarmac. We've tried the usual methods of temptation with cake mixture, hay and a neighbour's docile cow but to no avail. The last attempt was a disaster which ended in a cattle stampede leading to 2 cars being written off and pending insurance claims. The police have now informed us that to attempt to move the animals across the road is a serious risk and should not be attempted.
Things are complicated by the age of my parents whose farm it is. The farm itself is a typical small family outfit which is coming to the end of it days as there is no one left to take over. I am the only child and have made a life for myself in the city which is about 5 hours away. Despite this I make time every three weeks or so to visit and help out with stuff.
So, a secure pen was constructed with telegraph posts and steel hurdles. A local stocksman and cattle-merchant who had witnessed all previous failed attempts confidently offered his services (in return for a generous lump sum) to take the entire job on. I jumped at the chance as my parents - experienced and fearless as they are, should not be working in a confined space with 25 excitable animals. This was 6 months ago.
It should be mentioned that the cows are actually very docile. During the winter months they are given silage every day and can be petted. True to the breed, the problems start when they sense danger and potential enclosure. After eating continuously for 6 years they have grown massive. A number of the cattle also have developed large horns with one animal's starting to ingrow. About 10 months ago one of the herd gave birth to a male calf courtesy of a neighbour's bull clearing the fence. And we have just received notification of compulsory TB testing which needs to be done (generally every 4 years..).
The stocksman has given up and has stopped answering his phone. This is hugely disappointing as we are entering the time of year when the grass has stopped growing and the cattle are becoming hungry and therefore biddable. Even if the cattle are to be persuaded to enter the pen it would be incredibly difficult and dangerous to load them onto the cattle truck.
I don't know what to do. Neither does anybody else. If the animals need to be culled then so be it although I have no idea how to go about organising such a process especially when the cattle are roaming in a large field. Maybe tranquilisation is an option but the local vet has no experience doing that to a whole herd. A few years ago the area was hit by foot and mouth disease (but thankfully not us) and thousands of animals were slaughtered by the military so I guess it can be done.
If anybody has any ideas I would love to hear them,
Thanks for reading
R
Things are complicated by the age of my parents whose farm it is. The farm itself is a typical small family outfit which is coming to the end of it days as there is no one left to take over. I am the only child and have made a life for myself in the city which is about 5 hours away. Despite this I make time every three weeks or so to visit and help out with stuff.
So, a secure pen was constructed with telegraph posts and steel hurdles. A local stocksman and cattle-merchant who had witnessed all previous failed attempts confidently offered his services (in return for a generous lump sum) to take the entire job on. I jumped at the chance as my parents - experienced and fearless as they are, should not be working in a confined space with 25 excitable animals. This was 6 months ago.
It should be mentioned that the cows are actually very docile. During the winter months they are given silage every day and can be petted. True to the breed, the problems start when they sense danger and potential enclosure. After eating continuously for 6 years they have grown massive. A number of the cattle also have developed large horns with one animal's starting to ingrow. About 10 months ago one of the herd gave birth to a male calf courtesy of a neighbour's bull clearing the fence. And we have just received notification of compulsory TB testing which needs to be done (generally every 4 years..).
The stocksman has given up and has stopped answering his phone. This is hugely disappointing as we are entering the time of year when the grass has stopped growing and the cattle are becoming hungry and therefore biddable. Even if the cattle are to be persuaded to enter the pen it would be incredibly difficult and dangerous to load them onto the cattle truck.
I don't know what to do. Neither does anybody else. If the animals need to be culled then so be it although I have no idea how to go about organising such a process especially when the cattle are roaming in a large field. Maybe tranquilisation is an option but the local vet has no experience doing that to a whole herd. A few years ago the area was hit by foot and mouth disease (but thankfully not us) and thousands of animals were slaughtered by the military so I guess it can be done.
If anybody has any ideas I would love to hear them,
Thanks for reading
R
