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Post by missinginaction on Dec 7, 2022 0:53:08 GMT
I purchased 3 Dexter's 2 pregnant cows no horns and 9month calf with small horns. This last Friday morning my dogs spooked then and they ran straight throw the fence into the bush. They were spotted deep in the bush Saturday late afternoon, and ran as soon as they saw people. They are in about 2000 acres with roads separating from crown land. As of now they seem to be wondering the many ATV trails. I'm in Northern Canada and snow is covering the ground. We have large packs of coyotes/ wolves in the area.
How vulnerable are they? Will they survive? I'm very worried they will never come out of the bush!
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Post by genebo on Dec 8, 2022 14:22:44 GMT
They like to go to other cattle. If you have more cattle, watch for them to return and open a gate for them immediately. If you have ever fed them, shake a bucket of feed. Quickly read Temple Grandin's methods for driving cattle. www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/flight.zone.html |
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Post by jamshundred on Dec 12, 2022 14:03:31 GMT
Several years ago I delivered a cow and calf to a new owner in Virginia. He left a gate open and off they went into the woods where they lived for several months before they eventually migrated to a farm with other cattle and the owner got them into a field and finally back to the owner.
This summer a cow and young bull were delivered to Ohio. Originally a person was to take the. Animals to his farm and tame them for the new owner, but, instead they were delivered to the buyer whose fencing was woefully inadequate, and the escape was immediate. They are still roaming the woods there in Ohio. Eventually as forage disappears with winter weather they should also migrate to a local farm with cattle and be caught.
I always tell new owners to make sure they have good fencing for cows and warn that the very first thing a cow will do when relocated from their herd is to walk a fence line looking for a means of escape to try and return to their herd. Every time.
if your Dexters were not pampered with lush forage and grain, they will likely survive as long as there is any forage at all. They will eat weeds and leaves. They will try to find other cattle. If they are close enough for you to go out and leave some hay in small piles leading back towards your farm do so. Maybe some alfalfa pellets on top of the hay. Do it every day, closer and closer to an open gate and paddock with hay. Dexters are smart. And like mules they have long memories, so try not to do anything to scare them. Move softly and let them come to the bait. Do not spook them by trying to force them.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Dec 13, 2022 20:43:35 GMT
All good advice. Not knowing your particular area, I would also notify any auction houses or sale barns where they may be sold. A customer of ours came home one evening and two heifers were missing. She posted on Facebook, contacted the local sheriff and animal control, and offered a reward. Along with the reward, she also mentioned that the cattle were tagged in their ear, and the key thing was that we (as the seller) had microchipped the heifers. It didn't take long for a phone call from somebody 15 miles away saying that they had the heifers, and to come pick them up. Clearly 15 miles away raised a red flag, and our customer called the sheriff to accompany them to the farm, where the owner had them in a trailer. He also happened to have a few others in the trailer that he was taking to the sale barn the next day. He was very defensive and vague when asked for more specifics. The important part is that our customer got her cattle back.
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