Neighbor's cattle in yard

[Torvy]

In my case if the cows are in my yard they can end up in the road which is a traffic hazard. Maybe the sheriff can right a ticket for traffic hazard?

Here if they get on a state or US highway it doesn't matter which county, it's on the owner of the cattle.

If I hit a cow on a county or FM road, I have to compensate the owner of the cow. If it's on a state or federal road, it's the cow's fault.

 

[zzvyb6]

Refrigerator, freezer, ribeyes, tenderloins, chuck, and burger.

 

[MossRoad]

I am a township supervisor. We have a complaint from a resident whose yard keeps getting messed up by cattle from the beef farm across the road. We're not talking about a large farmer, about 20 beef cows and their calves. I've checked his fences and from what I can see without going on his property, they are very good meeting fence guidelines. That the cattle get out is no question. The resident complaining has called the county sheriff about it. The deputy who visited agreed, cattle from the neighbor, but there is nothing the sheriff's department can do about it. A little more about this farmer - he is in his upper 50s and lost his main job as an equipment operator due to a DUI. Last planting season, I was driving down the county road past his place and saw him lying in the middle of the road arms and legs flailing. His tractor was in the ditch alongside. I stopped to go help and he told me he was okay, go on. He had a 12 pack of beer in one had and a single can in the other, had fallen off the tractor which stalled in the ditch, and was trying to get up. Needless to say he has a bad drinking problem. My suspicion is he forgets to close gates when he feeds his cattle. The cattle go out across the road where although mid-winter, we still have no snow and the standing second crop is much better than the hay this cattleman is trying to feed them. Has anyone run into something like this before? The home owner (who also owns the hayfields around her house) has talked to the owners wife several times and has been told that that's the way it is. Does anybody have any suggestions?

From here:

In Minnesota, a livestock owner is bound by the common law duty to keep the livestock restrained on the owner's land. Minnesota Statutes, sections 346.16, 561.09, and 609.605 strengthen this common law duty by making it unlawful for an owner or person having control of livestock to permit the animals to run at large.

https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/pubs/fencelaw.pdf

As for suggestions....
I'd ask the cattle owner for money for repairs to my property caused by his cattle for a start.

I'd also mention that the cattle owner is most likely liable for anyone that gets injured by his cattle, car accidents and such.

I could think of worse things than a cow in my yard, but still, they should be kept in.

 

[Eagle1]

When the neighbors cattle come here, I just put them back into their fence.

 

[MossRoad]

I'

When the neighbors cattle come here, I just put them back into their fence.

I've done that with horses.

 

[scootr]

I'

I've done that with horses.

Me too but I tried that with the neighbor's bull. Mistake. It was a Beefmaster Limousine cross. I thought it was close by but it wasn't and the closer I got the bigger it got!
Taller than a horse and way bigger than my golf cart ! We were lucky it wanted to go home.

 

[JJT]

I simply get the grain bucket and they follow the tractor/utv home. The neighbor's beef cows are pretty tame.

 

[Torvy]

Refrigerator, freezer, ribeyes, tenderloins, chuck, and burger.

Except that is rustling. I suppose if they changed the law and people could keep wandering cattle it would encourage keeping them in better.

On the other hand, I've been around beef enough to know it is nigh on impossible to keep them penned in if they want out.

If I see cattle out, I try to help the owner get them back where they belong (it the situation allows for it).

 

[Molalla1]

Cows will get out no matter how good the fences are. I get them occasionally in my back yard from the neighbor, I just text them their cows are out, or I try to chase them in if I can by my self.

Yep, this is spot on. Some livestock will escape no matter what . . . like I have posted before I have seen bulls sprout wings (kind of my fault, I hit him with the wisdom stick).

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Here it doesn't exactly help that the elk can do a real number on fences.

 

[Molalla1]

Here it doesn't exactly help that the elk can do a real number on fences.

Another yep . . . they, the elk around here, simply walk threw our cattle fences.

 

[CliffordK]

Get automatic electric gates on the driveways. The gate will help keep your cows from heading out the driveway, and will help keep other people's cows from coming down the driveway.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

It sounds like the complainer needs better fences ?
I know it should not be her responsibility but some strong barbed wire fencing might be the best defence.

To me it sounds like the complainer needs a walk in freezer.

 

[Richard]

misclick

 

[MHarryE]

Is there an animal nuisance regulation in your township our county? If not then it's likely going to be a civil matter between the two land owners. Not sure who would be in the right if the offended parter called some other local cowhand to come get cows off their property.

From here:

In Minnesota, a livestock owner is bound by the common law duty to keep the livestock restrained on the owner's land. Minnesota Statutes, sections 346.16, 561.09, and 609.605 strengthen this common law duty by making it unlawful for an owner or person having control of livestock to permit the animals to run at large.

https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/pubs/fencelaw.pdf

As for suggestions....
I'd ask the cattle owner for money for repairs to my property caused by his cattle for a start.

I'd also mention that the cattle owner is most likely liable for anyone that gets injured by his cattle, car accidents and such.

I could think of worse things than a cow in my yard, but still, they should be kept in.

Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for. Minnesota Association of Townships was unable to give guidance, and I wondered if there was a more cost effective way to find regulations other than have our attorney investigate. Thanks again.

 

[sea2summit]

Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for. Minnesota Association of Townships was unable to give guidance, and I wondered if there was a more cost effective way to find regulations other than have our attorney investigate. Thanks again.

Glad that helped.

Without having to hire an attorney the Sheriff should have legal counsel through the DA or similar….

 

[MHarryE]

Times have changed. I was born and raised in this township, left after college and returned in retirement. Back on our dairy farm, dad had a problem with the neighbor's beef bull getting out of its fence and through our fences where it bred some of our Holsteins. My dad was not much for chasing so he had a 12 gauge with the finest bird shot that he used to keep the bull on its side of the fence. The person complaining is an old classmate, and by old I mean 78. However, she used to be a competition shooter. As a classmate, I suggested she use this deterrent but instead she made it an official complaint and as town supervisor, I didn't feel that was a proper official response. And being a neighbor, I did not call 9-1-1 on him when I found him lying drunk in the middle of the road (which I now regret). Now we have a start on how to get this officially settled. One of my game cams is going up across the road to record the problem.

 

[ArlyA]

Flaying in the middle of the road from alcohol sounds bad. How long can one be doing that?

 

[2manyrocks]

I really don't understand why the cow owner's wife seems indifferent that his cows are getting out because cows are valuable, but can turn into a liability if they trash somebody's property or cause a car wreck.

 

[MossRoad]

Flaying in the middle of the road from alcohol sounds bad. How long can one be doing that?

Till the next car comes along...