PLYMOUTH – If a herd of loose cows aren’t eventually corralled for good, “everybody in Plymouth will have some beef,” says Travis Road resident Betty Sarauw.

What’s the beef? Sarauw and fellow Town of Plymouth resident Jack Adams have a gripe against a farmer on Travis Road whose cows they say cause damage to lawns, gardens and structures while roaming freely on surrounding properties.

Sarauw and Adams aired their grievance at the Town of Plymouth board meeting last week, saying it could become the public’s problem, too, if an unsuspecting motorist were to hit one of the beasts while traveling on a backroad or nearby county Route 16.

“We want to prevent someone from being killed,” said Adams. “Hopefully the town can give us some assistance.”

So far, the town and state say there isn’t much that can be done from their end, despite some differing opinions.

Sarauw told the board that numerous complaints have been made to the county Sheriff’s Department and state police against the cows’ owner over the past three years, but no tickets were issued or arrests made. The Evening Sun has submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to the Sheriff’s Department seeking a record of incidents related to the cows.

Voice messages were unable to be left for the farmer, who did not answer calls seeking comment.