These tissue samples were sent to Dr. John Altschuler, formerly of the University of Colorado, who now runs his own state of the art pathology and hematology laboratory. As for the 'stepped and notched' incisions, Dr. Altschuler stated that since he examined the first mutilated animal back in 1967, he has seen this type of cut over and over again. Dr. Jim Armstrong, Auburn professor of zoology and wildlife science concurs. The wounds would not be similar to a smooth cut.
Coyotes bite through and pull to tear away the flesh.
It would have a 'chewed on look'. There are other scavenger animals such as vultures that will eat at the softer regions of a cow, but there's not going to be these clean, surgical-type cuts. There is no way a coyote or other predator inflicted those wounds. In the past week Dr. Armstrong has examined dozens of photographs of mutilated cows taken by the Fyffe Police Department. With the exception of one individual, we all agreed that many of the cases were not typical predatory damage.