To think the de-horning of cattle in the New Forest to protect walkers is wrong?

Perhaps we should be looking at those too. Sad, really.

De horning happens all over the place- farms, national parks, tourist spots because it’s safer for the animals and those caring for them.
Usually a local anaesthetic is used when the animal is a few days to weeks old then the horn is burnt to the bone to prevent re growth. A long lasting pain killer is usually also administered. It’s a very quick process. It looks a tad brutal and the animals usually object to being held.

There are hundreds of camp sites, B&Bs and rental cottages. Farmers will run often a camp site and do cream teas or cakes. There are organised cycling and walking holidays. The pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops rely on tourist for their trade.

The New Forest is a huge area that includes several villages. Cattle (and ponies) are everywhere. They roam freely. That includes on roads, village greens and in people’s gardens. It’s pretty common to have a cattle grid at the bottom of your drive to keep your plants safe. You can’t avoid cattle.

Yesterday 14:08
Alexa

PS tourists should stay at home and save fuel.

Wow - so you never take any trips or holidays? Well done you.

I live near some beautiful water meadows where cows graze. Notices advise people about staying away from them, and dog walkers are instructed to keep dogs on a lead. This does not stop idiots letting their dogs chase and attack the swans and ducks, and I held my breath last year while a man pushed his tiny child's buggy through the middle of a herd of cows. These poor creatures should be left alone. Why should they be mutilated because some people are stupid?
If we carry on like this everything everywhere will need to be fenced off and we will all be walking about wearing sorbo rubber suits and crash helmets.

The animals have rights too a d should not have to accommodate walkers. Why are walkers near cattle anyway? Ramblers etc know to stay well clear and avoid crossing areas if cattle are grazing. It will be the 'let's have a walk in the country brigade who know nothing amount the countryside or animals that habit it.

Perhaps we could chop their legs off in case they trample anyone?

Why is the human race so arrogant that it thinks everything eslse should be compromised to suit our desires? And why oh why is common sense and general safety not instilled

I think there's often a misconception that cows are quiet docile animals. Many people dont realise that they are dangerous

mostly there are too many dogs badly behaved.
more should be done to coerce dog owners into properly training their dogs
None of this .....he is just being friendly rubbish!
Dogs are scary and should always be under control
also too many people everywhere
leave the cattle to roam.

As has been said, cattle don't need horns to kill people. Nor are they are just dangerous when they have young, and they don't just pose a danger to people walking dogs.

So no, I don't think they should be de-horned, as I think it is futile.

I can't comment on the New Forest, but I strongly suspect that farmers in some areas deliberately put cattle in specific fields on order to deter/prevent use of public footpaths.

In the countryside, this can mean either having to detour by several miles, or abort a walk half-way, which is not good if needing to get from A to B for a specific time!

I detest the idea of de-horning cattle whether in milk herds or those living wild. They have horns to protect themselves.

Anyone walking a dog where there are cattle or sheep should keep the animal under proper control, which usually means on a lead.

Walking in the Pyrenees a couple of years ago, you could still see notices warning dog owners that dogs running loose could be shot on sight by sheep farmers. Anyone who know the damage a dog running wild amongst pregnant ewes can do cannot have any objection to that.

Cows with calves will protect their young, but are not otherwise likely to attack dogs or people.

Well said, Fiachna50! Why should the animals have to suffer because some people are too stupid to realise that if you want to walk in the country, then you learn to respect the wildlife and livestock who live there!

Up here in Scotland we just usually avoid cattle or deer when out walking. Stick to the edge of the field and just walk slowly. Obviously keep your dogs on a leash. It's very seldom we have had to walk near any cattle. You do have to be very careful if they have young calves. I do avoid cattle and have only walked anywhere near them if there has been no other route throùgh. I do not see why they have to be dehorned. They don't do this to Highland Cattle, folk are generally just careful and obviously you don't have your dog running about all over the place.

They do remove elephants' tusks and rhinos' horns to deter poachers but I've read recently that it's very painful to 'debud ' calves and that there's current, quite successful research into breeding cattle without horns. I agree that people should take responsibility for their own safety. I've heard that carrying a stout stick is recommended to deter cattle but avoiding them seems sensible.

with you 100% Merlot.

I often read about foolish people who allow their dogs of the lead in a field of cows and their calves.

In some instances, there have been injuries and deaths because the cows are naturally protecting their babies.

So, my motto is, don’t go anywhere near wild animals.
Leave them alone.

Here we go again - humans feeling their entitlement over animals - there are plenty of places to walk dogs - I have two large ones so I'm not a dog hater - and for humans to enjoy walks. It's plan common sense to avoid areas where cattle are wandering - we already subject cows to artificial insemination simply to satisfy our needs for beef and milk (I'm not vegan either) - let's for heaven's sake allow them to roam without being completely up our own bottoms!

I do not agree with dehorning the cattle. I believe we should start by educating visitors - I live in the country side and have unfortunately witnessed some very upsetting scenes when people have allowed their dogs off lead around sheep and it is horrendous. I do not feel that this is ever deliberate, just sheer ignorance. So please don't let your dog off near any livestock - ever. My dog is so used to livestock living near a farm however as much as I trust her I would never let her off the lead where livestock are grazing. If you want to give your dogs some space to run use a long or retractable lead so you can reel them back if necessary. I am used to cattle having grown up with them however I would never enter a field with them - with or without my dog - I would rather take a long detour than risk it. Sorry to sound so preachy, however livestock worrying is happening more and more often. To see new born lamb run to the point of exhaustion and killed is just heartbreaking. Also to hear of people being killed or seriously injured by cows, just use commonsense and lets educate people so they can visit our wonderful countryside and enjoy it. And leave the animals alone....

There is no point in dehorning them and I would not condone it, especially highland cattle whose magnificent horns are their glory. As others have said, cattle can be just as dangerous without horns as with. We were on a public footpath with cows around in the Peak District. I had fallen behind DH to take photographs and walked quietly past a large bullock standing on its own when it came up behind me and gave me a hard shove with its head that knocked me off my feet! Every time I tried to get up it became agitated. It was reluctant to leave until DH and some other walkers chased it off so that I could get off the ground. There were no dogs around, or calves with the herd, so I don’t know what triggered it. DH said it was my red socks?! This is a very well known path leading to one of the gritstone edges; I have been walking there since I was young and cattle are a fairly recent phenomenon.

Well I don’t have a problem with it to be honest. The animals roam freely in the New Forest, they could be anywhere where walkers go. Or where children are. The animals are not fenced in a paddock or field. Obviously people should try to keep away from the horses and the cattle, but it’s not always possible.

I think the animals are there simply because the long-standing New forest inhabitants have grazing rights. I don't think long-horned cows make a contribution to keeping the grass down on those huge 'bottoms' (as they call them).

That is disgusting. Animals should live in as natural a state as possible, and humans should learn to adapt to them rather than making them adapt to us.

These animals are usually there for a reason. If the animals were not there the forests would soon become very overgrown and wild. If that happened it would not be the ideal place to try and walk. The same reasoning why there are sheep and ponies on the Brecon Beacons and other such areas.