Stalking the Herd: Unraveling the Cattle Mutilation Mystery

by Christopher O'Brien

Who or What is Behind the Cattle Mutilations?The cattle mutilation phenomenon is an ongoing mystery that has endured for almost 50 years. What have we learned, if anything, from the countless reports filed? Who or what is behind the death and disfigurement of livestock reported as mutilated around the globe? Are these deaths simply attributable to natural predators and scavengers? Or is the military/government somehow involved? Are the deaths the action of ritual "cultists" as police say the evidence would suggest? Is it possible that alien predators are involved, as some researchers and the media have suggested? Are mystery helicopters or UFOs related to the cattle mutilation phenomenon as many witnesses have claimed?  Regardless of who or what is responsible, what are the motivations behind perpetrating what may be the greatest unsolved serial crime spree of all time? Stalking the Herd addresses these questions in depth and also offers an objective look at the history of our venerated relationship with cattle, among the first domesticated livestock. Is there a connection between these ritualistic cattle deaths and humankind's ancient practice of animal sacrifice? Why are there no Brahman cattle mutilations in India where cattle are revered to this day? Are aliens gathering genetic material for unknown purposes? What about the thousands of pounds of scientific forensic evidence? Are some hidden sections of the military conducting secret projects that--for some reason known only to them--involve the mutilation of hundreds of livestock and other warm-blooded animals. Are they monitoring the spread of "mad cow" disease?Stalking the Herd is an in-depth examination and analysis of this complex, multi-layered mystery and this book scrutinizes the various explanations that have been proposed over the years and proposes new theories that have chilling implications.

Genres: Nonfiction, Paranormal

560 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2013

About the author

Investigator on paranormal events in the San Luis Valley—located in south-central Colorado/north-central New Mexico.

O'Brien has investigated UFO reports, cryptozoology, cattle mutilations, secret military activity and folklore.

Reviews

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to believe I read a 564 page book on cattle mutilations. But, it was quite interesting. The author starts out with a history of man and bovine. DNA studies seem to indicate that "all of the cattle extant on the planet today have descended from a single herd containing as few as 80 animals." Domesticated from wild oxen a little over 10,000 years ago, modern bovines are a great deal smaller and dumber than their wild ancestors. The author gives a lengthy history of modern "mutilation" cases that have turned up, especially since the 1960s. Dead cows are found mutilated in ways scavengers would not normally be responsible for. Why? Well, that's the big question. A variety of culprits have been proposed over the years: ETs, Satanists, Corporate/Government bullying of small ranchers or some sort of surveillance program concerning certain environments and their effects on cattle and humans. As of yet, no particular theory is supported by all the case evidence. Although a meat lover, the author is quite critical of the large meat producing industry. The massive use of hormones and anti-biotics on cattle is quite frightening. Then, of course, there is mad-cow disease. A spooky, fascinating book on a rather strange subject.

[S.E. Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like reading the phone book.

Committing the same error as David Paulides, Christopher O'Brien's insistence on sticking to "just the facts" ends up producing a 500 page fire-hose of bone-dry details on incidents, and then calling it a book. This isn't a book. It's a CATALOG. There's no analysis at all. No attempt to tie the desperate parts together. In an attempt to avoid conjecture, Christopher O'Brien has avoided thinking or discussing the subject altogether!

In a way it's a startling feat: you took the phenomena of cattle mutilation and made it as boring as a spreadsheet.

That said, I do commend Christopher O'Brien on the sheer VOLUME of data he's collated. The 500 pages speak to the years spent hunting & gathering these incidents. For that, he must be commended!

For those that love David Paulides, I'd give it 5 stars. For those hoping for a John Keel or Nick Redfern type of book...3 stars.

[Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been waiting to review this book because I've been having some difficulty in actually deciding what to leave its ranking as: 4 stars or 3?... 3 stars or 4?... to its credit I think the book is authoritative in sheer data compiled. Without endorsing any particular theory as to what is mutilating cattle, livestock, and even pets Christopher O'Brien lists each incidence with its pertinent witness testimony (if any) regardless of outright silliness and of course there is most assuredly outright silliness in the subject of cattle mutilations. His reasoning-which is sound- is that in order to make a judgment one must have all the information accordingly he notes important world events going on simultaneously. Though logical, such a scale is far, far too wide. The first two chapters in my opinion are completely unnecessary- though certainly interesting.
Indeed the problem is not lack of information by any means. It's the proper interpretation that's needed and by the end O'Brien throws his hands up resolving to 'solve' the mystery in a second book- which seems well called for.
Considering that this is likely the first book of at least two I think there is then some latitude in me (an amateur mind you) making some judgment of my own.
I think the cattle mutilation "phenomenon" (or what have you) is something completely earth based.
I do not believe for a bit that space aliens are crossing the void to abduct Southerners and vivisect cows for a biological continuity program. Most of the early investigations focused on two angles: the first being cult involvement, and the second endorsed by the late Gabe Valdez is that the government was performing the mutilations to track radiation leakage from the failed Project Plowshare in addition to chemical and biological warfare. These two solutions have the best evidence in support: cloaked individuals have been seen walking through forests, books on the occult universally checked out at local libraries for cultists and in favor of the government explanation: radar chaff discovered in the mouths of deceased cattle, unmarked military helicopters, paint marking certain cattle viewable under black light, a bag of gloves, scalpels, and cow parts left at the scene of another mutilation, their proximity to military bases...
In my opinion there won't be any clever deductions here and that cultists and the military having been the initial primary suspects are still the primary suspects. Aliens be damned.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wild ride for sure. With an equally disappointing but terrifying conclusion. But holy cow…👀 it was fun to read about. And talk about with friends.

[Lemur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific compendium of stories and reports about cattle mutilations and their associated anomalies. The first of its kind, in fact. You will be surprised by the overwhelming number of reports collected here.

Though O'brien does not seem 100% convinced that aliens are responsible, he doesn't allow any bias in his presentation of details. Witness' stories are transcribed directly from the horse's mouth without manipulating the information toward any conclusion. Just the raw details here. And all possibilities are game. Without apology or censorship bigfoot, chupacabra, little men, large scorpion creatures, hooded figures, unmarked helicopters, and UFOs are reported in association with these mutilation cases.

A couple of drawbacks are the lack of statistical work and that the information is presented in chronological order. Some numbers would be helpful to compare similarities between all the different cases. This is what O'brien is working on for his next book with David Perkins. The redundancy does get a little tiring but it also drives home the fact that there is absolutely a pattern here.

A couple stones left unturned were the potential value of animal parts as health remedies or food. Chinese medicine attributes healing value to different organs and pieces of animals. This is the oldest, longest-studied type of medicine practiced. There may be more truth to it than the younger, western pharmacological industry will acknowledge. What if they use compounds from animal lips to cure one of their own diseases? Or what if the butts are used for probiotic purposes? Feeling low? Try a bowl of bovine genitals! JK. Seriously, this book is FUN!

[Michael Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, if I never read the sentence "cored out rectum" again, I will be okay. That said, the first chapter of this book was really interesting, when it gives the history of humans and bovines and tracks the sacred origins of religion to the cow and then supposes that maybe that relationship is somehow at work regarding modern mutilation cases. Then the book gets into laborious case studies, where I will admit, to this layman, something does seem amiss and many good people seem to be troubled by the supposed phenomena, at least on the page. But then Chris kind of veers into self promotion territory, constantly professing that it is impossible to cover some of the topics in this book, that they are too vast for this book, and then promising a follow-up book to fill in any blanks, this just seems slightly under par for a book that professes that it is "the" authority on any topic.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting...........I wish I knew what to believe. This just happened where we live. The article goes as follows:http://www.myeasternoregon.com/2019/0...
"All of the animals were deceased, and all three appeared to have their anal areas cut out along with their tongues and testicles. One was missing its penis and the tip of one ear. The Harney County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call, and reported back to dispatch that the incidents appeared to have happened at different times. Deputies couldn’t find a cause of death, stating no entry wound or bullet was located. we’ll keep you updated if any more information comes in."
I really struggle to believe in UFO's and Aliens........but yet part of me thinks......maybe.........

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate the large amount of data and research involved, that is great. I never researched cattle mutilation by myself, only the UFO research. And just to let you know UFOs, mysterious helicopters, and crypto animals are all associated with the UFO phenomena and aliens. I cannot guarantee it is only aliens but it seems aliens all over it. The author subscribes to Vallee's line of thought that predicts that one is "sophisticated" by being a perpetual undecided person. That is too bad, he should have known better, that aliens deploy plausible deniability in order to do their thing.

[Mark Tallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is possibly the definitive book available that covers the animal mutilation phenomenon, primarily cattle mutilations. The book is eye opening & rich with information. The author does look at the current hypothesis put forward as to what is behind this cruel and mysterious phenomenon, with an unbiased approach. What is interesting to note, is that no perpetrators have even been caught in the act, or found to be guilty & brought to justice.

[George Kanakaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in the subject , this is the book to read , period.It is an exhaustively researched casebook of the cattle mutilation.The writer has spend years in the field and is NOT some woo woo follower.O'Brien has found a big reason why these animals are lets say 'used'.Ans it's not from up there...

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book.

I got this book and realized it was a lot more detailed than I though. The first part about the history of cattle was really interesting and I never realized how much money is made from cows.

[Joey Madia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exhaustively researched casebook of the cattle mutilation phenomena. Of the many complicated areas of study in the paranormal field, this is perhaps the most complex. O'Brien does an excellent job of laying out all of the facts, bookending the volume with contextualizing chapters that begin with the long history of humankind's relationship to cattle, from worshipping them to domesticating them for milk and meat, and ending with an eye-opening indictment of the cattle and food processing industries. You may go vegetarian after reading it. O'Brien does not endeavor to posit a single theory, because there are probably many things going on. Be it government monitoring of cattle diseases and concentrations of hormones/antibiotics to Satanic cults (the least likely), to interdimensional beings, and so on, he prevents the facts and lets the reader decide.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but highly speculative, with not much real evidence.