Cowman you are not crazy...

[smcgrath76]

Well maybe just a bit.
You were talking about coyotes eating plastic. When we went down to check pastures coyotes had chewed a hose off of our water system (gravity fed from a holding tank) at both ends, and had even chewed up several of the screw on type fence insulators on our cross fencing.

[PureCountry]

It seems quite apparent to me that your coyotes are uneducated. You need to retrain them in their thinking that they need plastic in their diets. What their bodies are actually lacking is steel - hollow point to be specific. 150 grain, 30-06 Springfield would be my prescription.lol

[grassfarmer]

My coyotes actually steal plastic - plastic mole traps but I think they are taking them for the contents rather than the wrappers. Had to start staking the traps to posts.

[smcgrath76]

I was thinking about buying them mineral. We used to have sheep (my brother's project) and at one point we were up to 180 ewes or so. One person who gave us really good advice said that if you are not having problems with coyotes bothering livestock don't ever shoot any, because the new ones that move into the territory might not be so well mannered.
I am not sure where the balance point between livestock losses and replacing plastic is, but so far I think the coyotes are fairly cheap livestock. If only I could get a contract with a restaurant in the big city. LOL

[PureCountry]

The way the Ginger "Beef" tastes at the local 'ethnic' restaurant, I don't think you'd really need to peddle your wares in the big city.lol

[grassfarmer]

My cousin used to breed rabbits to supply the local Chinese resteraunts in Scotland. Rabbit wasn't on the menu though - it was called chicken!! Probably tasted much the same and I don't suppose that it was any worse for you but I never understood the premis - like chicken isn't cheap enough to buy?

[smcgrath76]

My current understanding is that you can sell almost any type of meat provided:
1) it is slaughtered in a registered/inspected facility
2) you truthfully tell the public what it is. Eg: Ginger Coyote.

[rkaiser]

Current understanding ---- You can sell D1 and 2 cow beef as well as any other cattle that you can steal from the producers in Canada in any restaurant or retail outlet without identifying the product --- thus deceiving the consumers of Canada - with the blessing of our producer funded ABP/CCA and their affiliate beef promoter Beef Information Center.

[15444]

Through the years we've had many two-piece (collar and head) insulators on 1/2 inch rod either gnarled or chewed completely off with only the collar and a bit of the threads from the head remaining. Every spring you can always find the hot-spots that the coyotes like to congregate just by looking at the insulators on posts. I suppose they like a good chew toy as much as any other dog.

[cowman]

Actually I'm really glad you don't think I'm completely crazy...Sean!
I write things how I see them...whether anyone agrees or not!
Believe it or not... I didn't fall off the turnip wagon yesterday! And the things I talk about on here are real and a concern to anyone who has a "realistic view" of the cattle business of today?
I often wonder if some of these guys on here are in the real world or some kind of dillusional fantasty?
I do value your insights Sean, as a young producer trying to make it in a very tough business.
And as an after thought...I really do enjoy coyotes...and what they do for me!

[coppertop]

well cowman, I can sure send you a bunch more coyotes if you like them that much !! May throw in a den or two of foxes as well !!!!

[kato]

I'll take the foxes! They like goose eggs, and we've been overrun by those!

I've even seen writeups by Ducks Unlimited praising the virtues of coyotes over foxes because apparently coyotes aren't nearly the egg eaters that foxes are.

We hear so much goose honking in the mornings around here you'd swear we had a flock of domestic geese in the yard.

[cowman]

Old momma coyote gets out and hustles to feed her babies! I wonder how many pounds of mice and gophers it takes to raise a den of pups?
The way I see it is the coyotes were here long before we came and will probably be here long after we are gone.
Personally I enjoy seeing them and like the serenade at night!

[coppertop]

Coyotes have a place in the scheme of things I guess. Many producers would likely disagree on the attractiveness of the darn things, as they have had to take extensive measures to control predation losses in their lamb and calf crops.