Who is responsible when livestock gets on the road

All U.S. and state highways in Texas are closed range — meaning livestock owners must keep animals off those roads. Farm-to-market roads are open range by default, unless local voters have passed a stock law to change that. Van Zandt County has many FM roads through rural areas.

If you are buying land with livestock or buying near grazing land, check whether a local stock law applies to your area. Contact the Van Zandt County Judge's office or review county commissioners' records. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has a plain-language summary of how this works statewide.