Cow disposal

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm pushing towards that. Cheap, easy, and stinky. Locals I talked to this morning said to just drag them off to someone elses land and let the birds/elements deal with it.

Publications I've been reading state a few bales of hay, and 5 gallons of diesel...

[KFC911]

You should just Moo

ve them

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 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

More than a few counties will frown heavily or even fine you for that. If the cow died from some bad disease. With just one it likely is the best option. Ground water pollution can be an issue in some areas.

If it is far enough away that it does not stink up your house, let the critters take care of them.

[mgatepi]

DO a Google search for a Rendering plant near you. They will take it and in some cases for free.
In some jurisdictions it is VERY illegal to bury dead animals!
Are you on well water?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by mgatepi

DO a Google search for a Rendering plant near you. They will take it and in some cases for free.
In some jurisdictions it is VERY illegal to bury dead animals!
Are you on well water?

yeah I'm on well. I'll have to drag it away when I get the stomach for it later.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by tcar

Lock you gate from now on?????

I have one of the other full timers out here check on things when i'm not around. Usually isn't an issue. Theft is non-existant. Dead bovine. Well it's a first for everything.

[tevake]

We had a cow die in the pasture behind our place on Kauai. It was a few hundred yards behind our house. Trade winds carried the smell away from the neighborhood in the day times., but at night the off shore breeze brought the smell right to our place and it was BAD, VERY BAD!!!
It took the caretaker a few days to get to it after we let him know what was going on.
He showed up with a backhoe and dug a big hole to bury it in, what a relief.

The ground water could be an issue if there were wells around.

Waiting for birds would take some time for a carcass that big.
It just gets worse to deal with as time goes by.

Good luck getting it taken care of.

Cheers Richard

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Publications I've been reading state a few bales of hay, and 5 gallons of diesel...

I would go this route.

[mattdavis11]

Rope them up by the hooves, and haul ass down the highway!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Publications I've been reading state a few bales of hay, and 5 gallons of diesel...

How close are your neighbors? If you are going to soak a few bales of hay with 5 gallons of diesel I would at least alert the neighbors and the authorities. I made the mistake of putting 1/2 a gallon of diesel on a burn pile, the flames shot wayyyy into the air and you could see the smoke for a mile.
Set off 5 gallons of diesel and they'll see it from the ISS.

[wdfifteen]

Just mentioning this, but did you know steak sauce and ketchup were invented to make meat that was a little, let's say past its prime, more palatable?
How dead is this cow, and how much does a gallon of steak sauce cost? You may be missing an opportunity here.

[Crowbob]

If he leaves it alone it will become steak sauce all on its own.

Mmm.

[KFC911]

It's just aging for now.....

Damn Covid-19 again.

[Dan J]

Call united rental and get a backhoe delivered Have fun digging holes

[pete3799]

Backhoe is how it's done around here.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by 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.

My buddy has a cattle ranch. Spring the cows get stupid and eat sweat clover and then keel over. Usually they are pregnant or have a calf close behind. They bloat like two to three times original size and can explode. He has to come up behind the carcass with a large knife mounted to a 14 foot pole and pop them in the gut. They blow out somewhat violently all the undigested clover/grass/ hay as well as any solids, gases or fetus. Have to admit one of the worst noxious smells I have ever experienced. It was oddly exciting to watch this challenge my buddy as this guy doesn't like getting messy with blood and guts when he is dressed for riding.

Fire up the Kubota, dig a big hole, chain the two front legs and drag it into the hole and like magic with just a mound to show for it. Disturbing freaky part is when the herd watches and move in to help tamp it down. The most difficult parts was trying not to laugh or throw up.

Don't wait for "other critters" to pick it down to the bone. It will draw every undesirable animal you don't want to your property. It takes a long time to for others to eat a cow down to bone.

Hay and diesel? Then you end up with petrified/ rubberized, mummified cow. It will reduce the size and weight of the carcass and may make it more manageable to part it out with a chainsaw into smaller pieces.

Have fun, I did..once was enough.

[speeder]

Jeff, that's probably the most disgusting post I've ever read here, yet somehow also mesmerizing.

So, AZ 928, how do you think they died? From the heat?

[RSBob]

Call a rendering service. They will come out and pick them up.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

My buddy has a cattle ranch. Spring the cows get stupid and eat sweat clover and then keel over. Usually they are pregnant or have a calf close behind. They bloat like two to three times original size and can explode. He has to come up behind the carcass with a large knife mounted to a 14 foot pole and pop them in the gut. They blow out somewhat violently all the undigested clover/grass/ hay as well as any solids, gases or fetus. Have to admit one of the worst noxious smells I have ever experienced. It was oddly exciting to watch this challenge my buddy as this guy doesn't like getting messy with blood and guts when he is dressed for riding.

Fire up the Kubota, dig a big hole, chain the two front legs and drag it into the hole and like magic with just a mound to show for it. Disturbing freaky part is when the herd watches and move in to help tamp it down. The most difficult parts was trying not to laugh or throw up.

Don't wait for "other critters" to pick it down to the bone. It will draw every undesirable animal you don't want to your property. It takes a long time to for others to eat a cow down to bone.

Hay and diesel? Then you end up with petrified/ rubberized, mummified cow. It will reduce the size and weight of the carcass and may make it more manageable to part it out with a chainsaw into smaller pieces.

Have fun, I did..once was enough.

I can see why you say grab it by both legs. I did one and what a damn mess when the leg ripped off. I don't want to bury it on my land, so I just shoved them in a corner down wind and when they get to bones/no smell I'll haul it to dump.

I don't think I'll ever eat beef again...

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by speeder

Jeff, that's probably the most disgusting post I've ever read here, yet somehow also mesmerizing.

So, AZ 928, how do you think they died? From the heat?

I'm not a cow coroner... Idk and I really don't want to know.