Cow disposal

[Arizona_928]

Back from vacation to find My gates open and two cows (female and calf) wondered in and died. Called the sheriffs and they said as long as it doesn't look like obvious foul play (gun shot) I'm on my own. Usda hotline says that they won't pick them up on private property.

So I'm stuck with a very big female and little calf to dispose of... Suggestions?

I have a rock solid alibi (up in the UP).... You know if you guys are curious.

[fintstone]

Dig a deep hole next to them.

[Jim Bremner]

Explosives?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Explosives?

Ha... Don't do this.

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No idea really, just guessing.
... Can you drag them to somewhere on your property and burn the carcasses?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Ha... Don't do this.

---

No idea really, just guessing.
... Can you drag them to somewhere on your property and burn the carcasses?

That's what I'm currently thinking. They're damn near ripe, and bloated.

[unclebilly]

How much land do you have?

I have a bone pile I drag my dead stock to (if you have livestock, you will have dead stock). The bone pile is 400 m away from my bathroom window (within shot) for coyote control.

There are also people that for $100 per animal will come take them away, normally horse people use this service.

[oldE]

Backhoe is the answer. Snow tires won't do in this case.

Sorry for the loss.

Best
Les

[stevej37]

If there is a cattle/dairy farm nearby...stop and ask about getting them picked up.
They almost all have rendering companies that pickup dead stock at their farms.
Might get them to stop at your place for a few bucks.

[wdfifteen]

Composting is easier than burial.

https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/fact-sheets/disposal-of-dead-livestock-equine

[Jolly Amaranto]

Call in these guys.

[asphaltgambler]

Big wood chipper...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Big wood chipper...

Only good in cold weather

[GH85Carrera]

There is a local (no help for you) company called "Used cow disposal" and they pick up dead livestock. I had the great fun of being on the road behind one of their trucks a couple of years ago.

Sorry for the big stinky problem.

[Mark Howard]

When I was young, and the world wasn’t as environmentally conscious, my dad would put 4-5 used tires on them and set on fire. They would burn for several days, nothing left but bones.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

No more grocery store beef

[porsche930dude]

pull them out and leave them on the side of the road. thats what we do with dead racoons and stuff. Then the town picks them up

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

The tags in their ears will tell you who they belong to I would guess?

Only one has an ear tag. Usda wasn't any help and said it was up to their owner to collect them. That is if I could find them/if they actually do pick them up.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

Call in these guys.

Yes! There's 8 ravens, and a turkey vulture out here this morning

[Bigtoe32067]

I had a similar problem with just one last year. I dug a hole in the back of my property and dragged the bloated stinky carcass into the hole and covered it with lime to help get rid of the smell and keep animals from messing with it. I covered it back up and it’s been fine. I have a tractor with a front end loader and a backhoe so it wasn’t too difficult.
Good luck
Tony

[john70t]

Tibetians and others perform a raised platform burial and the birds take care of it all.
That's how I'd like to go.

Personally I'd let nature do it's thing and just avoid it for the next few weeks if that's an option.