Is it normal to tie a cow to a tractor?

When a concerned citizen saw a cow chained to a tractor, they thought it was odd enough to ring police about.

But instead of being an animal welfare issue, the case turned out to be a common(ish) farming practice.


Waikaka dairy farmer Richard Wards with the 'downer cow' in hip clamps. Photo: James Wards.

It was Sunday afternoon when the police station phone rang - the caller having just seen the bovine suspended in its field along Gore's Waikaka Rd. Officers were told the animal couldn't get food or water, and the owner was nowhere to be seen.

The matter was referred to animal control.

Though what looked like cruelty was in fact the opposite, the farmer says - insisting it's a life-saving measure.

Either way, the practise of chaining cows to tractors has sparked plenty of questions, which we put to the owner.

What was going on?

Richard Wards says it was simply about saving his cow's life. A malicious act? Not at all.

Why was the cow chained to the tractor?

The cow was what farmers commonly referred to as a "downer cow" - a pre-calving cow that is sitting or lying on the ground and unable to get back up.

There are many reasons why a cow will go down, something that is frustrating to farmers and veterinarians. It's usually because the cow is unwell.

But because cows are heavy, resting on the ground for as little as 3-6 hours can cause muscle and nerve damage in their legs, so farmers use devices such as hip clamps (pictured above) or special cow slings lifted by tractors to raise the animal to a standing position.

"A chain was the only way you could hang a cow up, a bit of string won't do it," Wards points out.

So the cow is just hanging there?

The goal is to get the cow standing and walking on its own again, but this takes time.

But what about food and water?

Wards explains that farmers have to be very careful with downer cows. If the animal eats too much and lies down they'll get bloated and die.

Wards says his cow in question was given food and water twice a day, and he was careful that it didn't eat or drink too much.

So is the cow OK?

Yes, the cow is fine, Wards says. A vet gave the animal the once-over on Tuesday and it was making a good recovery.

So was there cause for concern?

SPCA Southland operations manager Richard Hay said no-one at the SPCA had received a complaint about the incident, but the practise was not unusual.

Gore District Council communications manager Sonia Gerken said council staff had visited the site and spoken with the farmer, but did not believe there was an animal welfare issue.

- Stuff

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4 comments

Bloody ignorant townies

Posted on 24-08-2016 12:33 | By awaroa

..


Awaroa

Posted on 24-08-2016 13:10 | By BennyBenson

I've lived country all my life and never seen this. And by all accounts people should be commended for taking the time to report any issues of animal abuse, even though in this case it was unfounded, far too often cases are reported too late or not at all.


Time Waster

Posted on 24-08-2016 13:55 | By Kaimai

Do gooders being time wasters - why would a farmer risk a $1000 cow? Shame they don't worry about children being beaten and families living in cars!


By Kaimai

Posted on 24-08-2016 21:34 | By waiknot

Maybe they do do all the things you accuse the townies of not doing. Why would a farmer risk a $1000 cow, why have some farmers starved their entire herd? Because there are nutters out there. Good on the townie.


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