Stray Cows

[bowhuntz]

Does anyone know if there is a law that allows you to take possession of stray cattle on your land? I moved all my heifers a while back and came home one day and someone had locked a pasture at my house (they must have been on the road or something) A friend told me that if you keep them and feed them for 30 days you can do whatever you want with them.

I worked them, wormed them and gave them their shots. Been feeding them everyday trying to get them in better shape.

[CabezaBlanca]

Do they have a brand on them or ear tags?

[Ætheling]

Stray Cows

State law says you must call the sheriff.

http://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/texasaglaw/files/2016/08/Five-Strands.pdf

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[Ætheling]

Stray Cows

Under Chapter 142 of the Texas Agriculture Code, a landowner who nds stray or “estray” livestock on his or her property should “as soon as reasonably possible, report the presence of the estray to the sheri of the county in which the estray is discovered.”16 Providing the location, number, and a description of the stray livestock helps the sheri ’s o ce nd the true owner and remove the livestock from your property. Once stray livestock are reported, the sheri will attempt
to contact the owner. If the owner is found, he or she may recover the livestock in accordance with the procedures set forth by statute. If an owner is not found or fails to redeem the livestock within 5 days, the sheri will impound the animal. If the animal is not recovered from impound, the sheri will sell the animal at public auction.
Just because stray livestock are on one’s land does not mean the landowner can automatically claim them or remove them by other methods. Disposing of estrays outside of the procedure in Chapter 142 may be considered livestock theft.


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[rcm719]

I'd get the deputy on the horn

[More Liberty]

Call the po po

[bowhuntz]

Do they have a brand on them or ear tags?

Just ear tags.

[bowhuntz]

Under Chapter 142 of the Texas Agriculture Code, a landowner who nds stray or “estray” livestock on his or her property should “as soon as reasonably possible, report the presence of the estray to the sheri of the county in which the estray is discovered.”16 Providing the location, number, and a description of the stray livestock helps the sheri ’s o ce nd the true owner and remove the livestock from your property. Once stray livestock are reported, the sheri will attempt
to contact the owner. If the owner is found, he or she may recover the livestock in accordance with the procedures set forth by statute. If an owner is not found or fails to redeem the livestock within 5 days, the sheri will impound the animal. If the animal is not recovered from impound, the sheri will sell the animal at public auction.
Just because stray livestock are on one’s land does not mean the landowner can automatically claim them or remove them by other methods. Disposing of estrays outside of the procedure in Chapter 142 may be considered livestock theft.



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Good info

[Beargrasstx]

Geez, you got terrible advice. You had cows with ear tags put on your property and instead of trying to find owner you try 'steal' them by some bogus law. Even if that were the law that is pretty crappy to not call neighbors or sheriff.

[Antlers86]

Does anyone know if there is a law that allows you to take possession of stray cattle on your land? I moved all my heifers a while back and came home one day and someone had locked a pasture at my house (they must have been on the road or something) A friend told me that if you keep them and feed them for 30 days you can do whatever you want with them.

I worked them, wormed them and gave them their shots. Been feeding them everyday trying to get them in better shape.

This has happened numerous times with us. A simple phone call to the sheriff the day you found them would have saved you from worming, feeding, etc etc. Sounds like you had full intentions of calling them yours and just waited for the days to add up on your land. With ear tags even without you should have contacted sheriff day 1.

Owner has probably called and reported them missing although I know many who don't in case an accident occurred due to them to avoid liability.

Call the sheriff and see if anyone has reported any missing. Check the ear tags and see if a name is on them. Look around nearby Property to see if you can locate similar ear tags. Might be a chance the owner will reimburse you for everything if you kept receipts.

Good luck

[bowhuntz]

Geez, you got terrible advice. You had cows with ear tags put on your property and instead of trying to find owner you try 'steal' them by some bogus law. Even if that were the law that is pretty crappy to not call neighbors or sheriff.

Number one. I did fill out an online report. And have a sign out.
Number two. I know all my neighbors and they don't belong to any of them.
Number three. That's why I asked because I didn't believe the information.
Number four. I'd never steal anything. I was simply asking if that is really true.

[Antlers86]

Number one. I did fill out an online report. And have a sign out.
Number two. I know all my neighbors and they don't belong to any of them.
Number three. That's why I asked because I didn't believe the information.
Number four. I'd never steal anything. I was simply asking if that is really true.

Good on you with the report and sign out for others to see. Sherriff should be in contact to to come out and load them up. They will take to sell barn most likely. Unfortunately you can't catch them and take to the sell barn. If you do you commit a felony. If sherriff was able to contact owner then you could charge him for the care and number of days on your property. I'm sure the owners would rather take a loss then deal with everything legally. Guess it depends on the number of cows your talking about.

[texan4ut]

Hopefully you will find the owner. Good on you for taking care of the livestock. If the owner is found maybe he will pay you back if not in money maybe a cow or two.

[texan16]

Even though you filled out an online report to the Sheriff's office, I would make a phone call and talk to someone about the cows. Obviously they dont follow up on online reports. Like others have said, you cant keep them. Sheriff's dept will/should come load em up and haul them off.

[GrapeApe]

SSS. Shoot, Slice, Steak.