State police are investigating a case of suspected animal cruelty at a farm near the Lawrence-Butler County line where a Texas Longhorn cow was shot and killed.

The owner, a 55-year-old man, discovered the dead animal Wednesday afternoon in a field on his property on Copper Road near Blind Lane in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, police said. The cow was pregnant and its unborn calf died, too.

A veterinarian later determined the cow died of a gunshot. Investigators apparently have no suspects.

Police said the victim owns longhorn cattle, and he was attempting to get the animals back into a fence-in area just before 2 p.m.

The Texas Longhorn is a breed known for its characteristic horns. Most cows and bulls have horns of four feet or less. Mature steers, however, have an average span of six feet or more, which can extend up to nine feet, according to the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.

Longhorn beef is leaner than other breeds and is lower in saturated fats.

The owner recounted that as he placed feed out for the cattle, he found the dead cow.

The 4-year-old cow was shot in the right aside of the body with a large caliber bullet, possibly fired from a muzzleloader, veterinarian Robert Maro of Lowellville, Ohio said this morning.

“It was a big hole,” he said of the wound.

Maro, who provides care for the owner, went to the farm to inspect the bovine. He said he hopes to recover the bullet from the cow during an autopsy planned for later today.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 724-598-2211.

The Eagle will update this story as more information becomes available. Make sure to pick up Friday's Butler Eagle or subscribe online for the full story.