Posted on 01/06/2006 3:38:26 PM PST by Redcitizen
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - A cow that escaped a slaughterhouse dodged vehicles, ran in front of a train, braved the icy Missouri River and took three tranquilizer darts before being recaptured six hours later. News of the heifer's adventures prompted a number of people to offer to buy the animal.
The black, 1,200 pound heifer jumped a gate at the packing plant at around 5 a.m. Thursday and apparently wandered through residential areas. Police received reports at about 9:30 a.m. that it was in the middle of a busy intersection.
Police tried to catch the cow, and had her wedged between a stock trailer and a fence, but the heifer barreled through the fence toward the river, nearly being hit by a Chevrolet Suburban.
It was the first of many near-death experiences.
With the police in pursuit, the cow ran toward the railroad tracks and darted in front of an oncoming locomotive, briefly giving the police the slip again.
Crossing another road, the cow was nearly struck by a semi tractor-trailer.
"By then it was a madhouse," said police officer Corey Reeves. "People were coming out of the woodwork to see."
When police, animal control officers and slaughterhouse workers surrounded the cow in a park near the Missouri River, the cow jumped into the icy water.
As she swam to the west bank of the river, Reeves said she sank lower in the water and was being swept downstream. But the cow found a sandbar near the river's west bank and walked to shore.
"I was totally amazed she was able to swim the river," said Del Morris, the slaughterhouse manager.
As police scrambled to head off the cow on the other side of the river, a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun was called.
Pursuers again believed they had the cow cornered at a chain link fence, but the heifer ran through a perimeter set up by officials.
The chase began to slow as the cow ran up against several strong fences. Dr. Jennifer Evans of Big Sky Medical Center shot the cow with a tranquilizer dart.
It had little effect.
Two darts later, the heifer showed no signs of going down. Slaughterhouse workers created a makeshift pen with metal panels that led to a stock trailer.
The heifer walked into the trailer at 11:45 a.m.
The cow was taken back to the slaughterhouse, where it was put in a pen — with a stronger fence — and given food and water.
If only cows weren't made of beef.....
You are heartily forgiven.
One of us cowtown girls need to start a cow thread:')
I'm afriad to read the rest of the thread. I hope the cow's life was spared.
Yep,pretty much...I didn't realize it was a heifer until after I read it.
OK. Seriously. So like I am so like you know a city grl but you know I always thought like the bulls were boys and their job was to so like get it on with the cows who were grls to so they could make more bulls and cows, and like the cows’ job was to have babies in between the giving us milk and cheese and organic low fat yogurt and like some of the baby bulls were like you know, un-masculineized (I think they call it castrated) so they like become steers and like the steers’ job was to grow big and tasty and become my favorite hamburger or steak.
So you mean to tell me that I’ve like been eating nice, sweet, doe eyed, milk giving, mommy grl cows? Yuk. I’ll eat more chicken! Actually tonight it’s Tai Pad Shrimp. But please don’t tell me anything I don’t want to know about the chickens or the shrimp. I really don’t want have to become like a vegetarian or something. Like you know?
It's an udder shame...
No wonder the slaughter is down.
LMIC: U.S. Cow & Heifer Slaughter Below A Year Ago
Federally Inspected (FI) cow and heifer slaughter levels have been well below a year ago in 2005. The smaller number of cows and heifers in the slaughter mix confirms that U.S. producers have fully entered the cowherd-rebuilding phase of the cattle cycle. The tighter supply of slaughter cows has supported rather strong slaughter cow prices this year. (cattlenetwork.com)
You've been eating the heifers (a cow that's never been bred) and steers (a bull that was castrated when young) that weren't fit for breeding.
You generally do not eat the female until they get much older, and are less productive (ie: not giving enough milk; not able to calve). The meat is usually hamburger because they are fairly tough with age. A heifer is a very young female.
What you generally eat is a steer, the neutered male, that fattens up very nicely.
Translation: "Beef is NOT what's for dinner tonight, monkey-boy!"
And here I thought a heifer was a cow with a tendency toward being chunky. Thanks for the correction.
Gary Larson was the master of cartoon humor.
Although apparently enjoying France, she seemed agitated when the people who found her inquired sweetly, "Qu'est-ce que tu fais, toi?" and promised to send her home!
Her obviously loving family said that they couldn't wait see her again and to put some meat back on her bones after her freightening ordeal abraod.
Udderly amazing.
Introducing, the great Cowdini.
LOL! I like Moodini better, though.
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