Legalities of shooting cattle ?

[paul o']

think you need to have a slaughterman ticket !! or be on a vets list may be wrong!! but find out first, after all it may be another string to your bow as for extra income from the vet. this is what i do when the farmer has an unfit to travel big old sow or other pig etc on her farm , the vet turns out and i shoot it with a 12g useing sg ,iv worked as a slaughterman and as a lad my grand farther owned a horse meat farm

found this
Shooting Cattle


sd posted in2012

 

[jimo]

+1

​Typically cattle have a 'come to' food so to move mine I would rattle a feed bucket full of sugar beet and one or two would come running. Being a herd animal several more would rush to join them in order to keep together and enjoy their favourite food. Any stragglers are just called by the herd and join up fairly quickly. It's a ten minute job.
No need for a Gun just grab a Feed Bucket.

Not always that easy especially if they haven't been bucket fed much and you have one on it's one as they tend to panic. My neighbour had a few young limmeys break out as they were being delivered and they went their separate ways and were a nightmare to get back. They couldn't be driven as they just went for who ever was nearest and his daughter ended up with a trip in an ambulance. About 8 of us turned out to help, all used to handling cattle but we struggled. In the end the owner managed to get a rope around its neck and we all dived on it when it tipped and went down.


Look on the bright side Nick its some stalking practice for you . Is your cold room fixed yet??
It won't get out of there

 

[nick100]

Unbelievable! The fact that your neighbour, and whoever else is involved, can't shift a few cattle is shocking, how did he plan to sell them / send them off for slaughter. Have you tried leaving feed out to atract them to a part of the wood where they can be driven back on to his ground?

Have you thought what these are worth each, beef steers thick end of £800 plus.

Here we go more experts.
Why don't you come down and show us how to catch them with a bucket of grub !!


He had been feeding them for a few weeks, he had to try and get them in for Tb testing.
They had seven people trying to walk them quietly in.

We have no fenced fields nor have most of our neighbours, not that a fence would stop them.
They could go for miles and miles, and possibly have.

Any way the OP was not about being able to catch the dam things.

 

[nick100]

Is your cold room fixed yet??
It won't get out of there

Yes it's fixed thanks.
​Thats the problem Jim, how would we get one in there.

 

[Irish Bob]

Here we go more experts.
Why don't you come down and show us how to catch them with a bucket of grub !!


He had been feeding them for a few weeks, he had to try and get them in for Tb testing.
They had seven people trying to walk them quietly in.

We have no fenced fields nor have most of our neighbours, not that a fence would stop them.
They could go for miles and miles, and possibly have.

Any way the OP was not about being able to catch the dam things.

Well he wants to give up farming if that is the level of his stockman ship.

Chasing the the round is not the answer. You leave the food to get the used to being in an area and move them quietly from there.

If they are that wild they are not going to go though a race for testing.

Your friend end needs his backside kicking and you need to find a more suitable pastime, that doesn't involve firearms.

 

[nick100]

Well he wants to give up farming if that is the level of his stockman ship.

Chasing the the round is not the answer. You leave the food to get the used to being in an area and move them quietly from there.

If they are that wild they are not going to go though a race for testing.

Your friend end needs his backside kicking and you need to find a more suitable pastime, that doesn't involve firearms.

Whats that supposed to mean ?

Who mentioned chasing them around ?

​I take it you have never been involved with livestock.

 

[Naseby]

Not always that easy especially if they haven't been bucket fed much and you have one on it's one as they tend to panic. My neighbour had a few young limmeys break out as they were being delivered and they went their separate ways and were a nightmare to get back. They couldn't be driven as they just went for who ever was nearest and his daughter ended up with a trip in an ambulance. About 8 of us turned out to help, all used to handling cattle but we struggled. In the end the owner managed to get a rope around its neck and we all dived on it when it tipped and went down.

Look on the bright side Nick its some stalking practice for you . Is your cold room fixed yet??
It won't get out of there

Jimo
I take your point, I bucket feed mine regularly enough that they come running as soon as they see a Feed Bucket or hear the food being rattled. Putting them through a race and crush is also no drama as it's fairly regular too. I cant quite envisage a break out on delivery, but do understand that you are then faced with a different set of circumstances.
​Naseby

 

[CharlieT]

All I can say is that if I had to shoot every beast I had on the moor that proved difficult to catch I'd give up.

Oh and you need "The firearms and ammunition shall be used also in connection with the humane killing of animals" to cover yourself for every eventuality.

 

[Irish Bob]

Whats that supposed to mean ?

Who mentioned chasing them around ?

​I take it you have never been involved with livestock.

It is very clear, if you are even considering on embarking on such a crazy and risky exercise firearms are probably not for you.

As to my involvement with livestock, it is clear from my post that I have plenty.

How does the owner of these cattle worm them, apply warble fly dressing, treat them when they are sick?

if things are as bad as you say the simple solution is to find a competent farmer and say he can have them for free but they must be shifted in seven days. Problem solved.

If you shoot them you mate will have to pay for disposal. So giving them away removes the risk and saves him money.

 

[Naseby]

Here we go more experts.
Why don't you come down and show us how to catch them with a bucket of grub !!

He had been feeding them for a few weeks, he had to try and get them in for Tb testing.
They had seven people trying to walk them quietly in.

We have no fenced fields nor have most of our neighbours, not that a fence would stop them.
They could go for miles and miles, and possibly have.

Any way the OP was not about being able to catch the dam things.

Nick100
I was and am trying to help. For TB testing I would start feeding them a favourite food say 3 or 4 days in advance of the first test. Food is placed in the race by me working on my own. "Seven people trying to walk them in" would be highly unlikely to work IME.
First day most cattle will make for the Race and scoff the grub; a couple might be more wary. Repeat exercise each day and they will all end up in the race, why wouldn't they, it's great food and nothing bad happens? Shut a hurdle behind them and either leave them for 5 or 10 minutes and release or just run them through the Crush. I do this on my own without any dramas regularly. I personally would continue doing it for the couple of days between the first and second test. The only 'watch out' is if any require any minor non urgent procedure in addition to the test, I'd do it on the second test day rather than the first. Again not being a smartarse just trying to help

 

[nick100]

It is very clear, if you are even considering on embarking on such a crazy and risky exercise firearms are probably not for you

If you shoot them you mate will have to pay for disposal. So giving them away removes the risk and saves him money.

So going by your judgement there are plenty on here who should not have an FAC.

 

[jimo]

Jimo
I take your point, I bucket feed mine regularly enough that they come running as soon as they see a Feed Bucket or hear the food being rattled. Putting them through a race and crush is also no drama as it's fairly regular too. I cant quite envisage a break out on delivery, but do understand that you are then faced with a different set of circumstances.
​Naseby

He had gates tied up to funnel them into the yard from the back of the trailer and the first one down the ramp jumped the gate, broke the string and the rest followed. He hadn't thought to shut the yard gate just in case. I don't know if you have ever had anything to do with Limosans (spelling?) but they have an "interesting" temperament.

 

[nick100]

Nick100
I was and am trying to help. For TB testing I would start feeding them a favourite food say 3 or 4 days in advance of the first test. Food is placed in the race by me working on my own. "Seven people trying to walk them in" would be highly unlikely to work IME.
First day most cattle will make for the Race and scoff the grub; a couple might be more wary. Repeat exercise each day and they will all end up in the race, why wouldn't they, it's great food and nothing bad happens? Shut a hurdle behind them and either leave them for 5 or 10 minutes and release or just run them through the Crush. I do this on my own without any dramas regularly. I personally would continue doing it for the couple of days between the first and second test. The only 'watch out' is if any require any minor non urgent procedure in addition to the test, I'd do it on the second test day rather than the first. Again not being a smartarse just trying to help

Naseby,
I know where you are coming from, luckily we are out of cattle and sheep now.
From what I was told they had been feeding them for a while. They have got a lot of stock, I suppose the higher the numbers the higher the chances of something going tits up.

ATB

Nick

 

[Irish Bob]

He had gates tied up to funnel them into the yard from the back of the trailer and the first one down the ramp jumped the gate, broke the string and the rest followed. He hadn't thought to shut the yard gate just in case. I don't know if you have ever had anything to do with Limosans (spelling?) but they have an "interesting" temperament.

Limousin, simmental etc are less predictable than herefords and the other native breeds and alot better at jumping. But what you are describing is a stressful situation for any cattle. When moving cattle you need to always think how you can keep stress to a minimum. The behaviour of some cattle hauliers never ceases to amaze me. Rather than trying to calm the cattle they do everything they can to wind them up.

To catch them - there can't be much food about in the wood. I would therefore put some fodder and nuts out in an area where I wanted them (where they can be moved from) and get them used to hanging round there. You then move them, walk them, back to where they should be.

I would not try and get them into a wagon. Think of it from their point of view, they are in a wood, probably not been kept in one before, they are hungry - it is no wonder they are stressed and hard to handle. Getting them settled is the first thing to do.

 

[Naseby]

He had gates tied up to funnel them into the yard from the back of the trailer and the first one down the ramp jumped the gate, broke the string and the rest followed. He hadn't thought to shut the yard gate just in case. I don't know if you have ever had anything to do with Limosans (spelling?) but they have an "interesting" temperament.

Jimo, dont know much about Limousins but they're good looking and medium sized. I've handled Dexters, Black Angus, Devon Reds and White Park Cattle. Unloading and loading is a potential for some 'excitement' so it pays to be really thorough and have the right kit. I've seen people use string to secure gates and hurdles, sometimes you get away with it and often not. My hurdles are secured through two points with alloy 'pins' that are over a metre long and an inch thick. If I am forced to tie, i use thick cord and look to secure in several places. I'm sure some will think I overdo it but cattle are big units and as you've seen when it goes wrong it goes wrong big time!

 

[Irish Bob]

Jimo, dont know much about Limousins but they're good looking and medium sized. I've handled Dexters, Black Angus, Devon Reds and White Park Cattle. Unloading and loading is a potential for some 'excitement' so it pays to be really thorough and have the right kit. I've seen people use string to secure gates and hurdles, sometimes you get away with it and often not. My hurdles are secured through two points with alloy 'pins' that are over a metre long and an inch thick. If I am forced to tie, i use thick cord and look to secure in several places. I'm sure some will think I overdo it but cattle are big units and as you've seen when it goes wrong it goes wrong big time!

Limousin are mad, but not as mad a simmentals (the name is appropriate). I have never handled WPs but the other breeds you mention are pussy cats compared to these things.

 

[Naseby]

Naseby,
I know where you are coming from, luckily we are out of cattle and sheep now.
From what I was told they had been feeding them for a while. They have got a lot of stock, I suppose the higher the numbers the higher the chances of something going tits up.

ATB

Nick

Nick,
Yes agree, always the potential for something to go wrong. Best laid plans etc
Never been brave enough to keep sheep, although I'd walk a long way for some slow cooked mutton!
Happily the next door farm have several hundred.
Cattle and Rare Breed Pigs for me, not an expert, but I do know my way around them.
You are right higher stock numbers lead to more challenges
ATB
Naseby

 

[Naseby]

Limousin are mad, but not as mad a simmentals (the name is appropriate). I have never handled WPs but the other breeds you mention are pussy cats compared to these things.

I usually go for the safer option and avoid anything described as 'mad' in women, cattle and dogs!!

 

[jimo]

Nick asked about the legality of shooing it if he was asked to. By the sounds of it they have one animal loose in a wood and another has been responsible for an RTA so it needs sorting out. If it can be shot humanely, safely and legally it might be the best practical solution. It saves the risk of anyone getting hurt if it is that wild and also the risk of the animal hurting itself. If it is used to a bucket it may even put its head down for a bit of cake allowing a nice safe head shot. Hopefully the carcass will be recoverable so it can be butchered for their own consumption.
When I mentioned not escaping from the cold room I was assuming it was on the hook. ( sorry it's a family joke about troublesome lambs not being able to get out of the freezer)

Jim

 

[VSS]

If it's just one animal loose in the wood, best thing would be to loose a few more to join it - preferably a couple of sedate old cows. Then do the bucket feeding thing and they'll all come together no problem, provided not too many people involved. One person with the bucket, and everyone else well out of the way.

Can't be that much different from when I get my store cattle (mostly Lims) down off the mountain in the Autumn.