Pregnant cow shot, killed on farm
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP, Lawrence County — State police are investigating a case of suspected animal cruelty after a Texas Longhorn cow was shot and killed at a farm near in Lawrence County, near the Butler County line.
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, police said. The cow was pregnant, and its unborn calf died too.
A veterinarian later determined the cow died of a gunshot wound. Investigators apparently have no suspects.
Police said the victim owns several longhorn cattle, and was corralling the animals back into a fenced-in area around 2 p.m.
The Texas Longhorn is a breed known for its characteristic horns.
Most cows and bulls have horns of 4 feet or less. Mature steers, however, have an average span of 6 feet or more, which can extend up to 9 feet, according to the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.
Longhorn beef is leaner than other breeds and lower in saturated fats, according to the association.
The owner recounted finding the dead cow while placing feed out for the cattle. Police believe the animal was shot between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The 4-year-old cow was shot in the right side of the body with a large caliber bullet, possibly fired from a muzzleloader, according to veterinarian Robert Maro of Lowellville, Ohio.
“It was a big hole,” he said of the wound.
Maro, who provides care for the owner's animals, went to the farm Wednesday to inspect the bovine. He said he hoped to recover the bullet from the cow during a necropsy that was planned for Thursday.
The owner declined to comment for this article.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 724-598-2211.
