Does Level 177 have an opening cow?

No. The first decoded frame is an unmarked 9x9 board; r2c2 is the first accepted cow.

Which cell is the visible red error?

The red error is r3c4 in the teal block. It is separate from the accepted r5c4 placement.

The ninth and final cow is placed at r1c6; the terminal source frame shows nine cows, two hearts, and Great.

Zoodoku level guide

expert 8 colors

Zoodoku Level 177 is an unseeded 9x9 cow board; follow r2c2, r7c3, r8c5, r4c9, r6c1, r5c4, r3c7, r9c8, and r1c6 while avoiding red r3c4.

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Place the first cow at r2c2 in the isolated pink territory.
Place the second cow at r7c3 in the purple territory.
Place the third cow at r8c5 in the light-green territory.
Place the fourth cow at r4c9 in the green territory.
Place the fifth cow at r6c1 in the brown territory.
Skip red-probed r3c4 and place the sixth cow at r5c4 in the teal territory.
Place the seventh cow at r3c7 in the upper-right pink territory.
Place the eighth cow at r9c8 in the yellow territory.
Finish with the ninth cow at r1c6 in the blue-gray territory, then confirm Great.

Colors in this level:

Blue-gray, Pink, Brown, Teal, Yellow, Green, Purple, Light-green

Do not tap r3c4: the source shows a red failed teal probe; r5c4 is the accepted teal coordinate.
Do not count white X propagation as additional cows or move the late yellow target away from r9c8.

Board notes 5 details

Layout: The 9x9 opening has a blue-gray upper band, brown and teal pockets through the left and center, pink blocks at the right, a yellow lower field, purple at r7c1-r8c2, green at r4c9, and a light-green singleton at r8c5.
Goal: Place nine cows at r2c2, r7c3, r8c5, r4c9, r6c1, r5c4, r3c7, r9c8, and r1c6 in the verified accepted order.
Opening: The first decoded frame is blank: no seeded cow and no opening X. Accepted r2c2, r7c3, r8c5, r4c9, and r6c1 begin white-X propagation; the source separately shows red r3c4 before the accepted r5c4 and late placements.
Danger Zone: Red r3c4 is a failed teal probe and costs one heart. The successful teal placement is r5c4; do not turn the red mark into a solution step.
Mechanics: This is an unseeded 9x9 cow board with nine successful placements, one red error, two hearts remaining, and a final Great state.

Does Level 177 have an opening cow?
No. The first decoded frame is an unmarked 9x9 board; r2c2 is the first accepted cow.
Which cell is the visible red error?
The red error is r3c4 in the teal block. It is separate from the accepted r5c4 placement.
Which cow finishes the level?
The ninth and final cow is placed at r1c6; the terminal source frame shows nine cows, two hearts, and Great.