Calf prank likely unhappy ending for cowBy Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Kay Hyman This newborn Belted Galloway was found in the Belle Hall subdivision on Saturday. The calf was returned to its rightful owners, but its mother refused it. MOUNT PLEASANT — Whoever took a newborn calf from a cattle company and released it several miles from its mother probably wasn't interested in the beef, the property manager speculated. The Three Gates Cattle Co. has had problems in the past with trespassers looking for "magic" psychedelic mushrooms that grow on cow manure, Dale Floyd said. He and the property owners think someone picked up the Belted Galloway calf as a prank before letting it go in the Belle Hall subdivision, where a Mount Pleasant police officer spotted it Saturday. The Charleston Animal Society cared for the calf, which was just several days old, until Floyd was notified by another farm about news stories. The reunion between calf and mother didn't go smoothly, though. "We gave the mom and calf about a day to try and reconcile. The mom wasn't mean to her, but she wouldn't let her come close," Floyd said. To offer tipsContact Crime Stoppers at 554-1111 or 5541111.com to leave an anonymous tip. There is a $1,000 reward in the case. The calf, which had been bottle-fed by animal society staff, was adopted by a man and his son from Conway, Floyd said. She'll end as someone's pet because she's been hand-raised, but her mother's future is bleak. "The mom is going to end up being slaughtered. She's getting old and she's got a couple of teats starting to go dry. These were her good ones and now she's having mastitis and it's causing irritation and infection," Floyd said. He and the owners hope whoever took the calf realizes the serious consequences. "Whoever thought it was funny, at least their friends ought to say to them, 'This isn't funny. They had to put down a cow and had to separate the calf from the mom,' '' Floyd said. The owner is offering a $1,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of whoever took the calf. Floyd said they're also going to put a supplement in the cow feed to prevent the growth of mushrooms. Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 11 comment(s)
Posted by theballsiam on August 13, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have picked mushrooms before in my younger days, but I would have never thought of doing something like that. Leave the damn cows alone!
Posted by luckylady on August 13, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wpc3ioc and ColdBeer - you always make me laugh with some of your comments - was a bit surprised that Early behaved himself, so far anyway. It is quite sad that the calf was taken from her mother but at least now if she is someones pet she will live out a nice long life. Not sure why the mother needs to be slaughtered because her teats are dry. Really glad humans don't do that.
Posted by newbattleaxe on August 13, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Luckylady, most farm animals are not retired when their productive life ends. Most farmers can't afford to run retirement homes for animals that can't contribute, especially when the animals' numbers rise.
Calf's mama is NOT a pet. She has not been trained to be a pet. She's too big to be a pet. She's one of many cows on that farm. These cows go dry. They are LARGE animals. Mr. Floyd may have the money to retire these animals, but he, like most farmers, does NOT have the room.
So, Calf's mama and all the other such "retired" cattle become our ground beef, etc.
Posted by sbs920 on August 13, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you call a cow with no legs ?
ground beef. . .
what do you call a dog with no legs ?
you don't. . . 'cause he won't come anyway. . .
Mooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Posted by prosperous_hb on August 13, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Eat mor chikin
Posted by Nonsense on August 13, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder if they will name him "Norman" - he looks more like an Oreo - black on both ends and white in the middle.
Posted by luckylady on August 13, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
newbattleaxe - I stand corrected and I bow my head in shame for my thoughts on this incident. I am a softy when it comes to animals and although I eat my share of meat (including beef) it just makes me feel better not to think of animals being slaughtered for our gratification of a nice steak - naive yes or just turning a blind eye would be a better description. Thanks for your thoughts, I had a feeling someone would call me out on that one.
Posted by boxercurl on August 13, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is wrong with kids today!!!
Posted by sc4peace on August 13, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
aaaw....that's so sad :(
Posted by YankeeLady on August 14, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope that the poor little calf will have a comfortable life and not suffer the fate of its mother. The cow isn't going to be "put down" - it will be brutally killed like millions of other animals are each year. Nice ending - work all your life making milk for humans to drink, and when that's used up, they hang you upside down and cut your throat.
Posted by sbs920 on August 14, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this has been a moooooooooooving story