>>Hahaha. That sort of thing happens all the time around the area where I live. Do you seriously think this sort of thing is EVER reported?<<
In their defense, they are just providing the official answer to the the question.
If the IRS ever got return that actually LISTED a bartered cow they would probably blow it up and frame it as a once in a country’s lifetime event!
That'd be right there with reporting out-of-state (including mail/internet order) purchases for "use tax" (if sales tax wasn't already paid) on a state tax return. Sure, it's required by law, but most people don't even know about it, let alone do it.