The danger of cows to walkers.

I cannot understand the mentality of people who walk through fields of cows with a dog in tow.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.
The woman in question this week was a retired police woman or ex army. I couldn’t believe how stupid and thoughtless she was.
It was utterly horrible and so avoidable.

I have walked through a field of cows and they didn’t take a blind bit of notice. If, on the other hand I had a dog- then who knows.

“Bulls of recognised dairy breeds (eg Ayrshire, Friesian, Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are in all circumstances banned from being at large in fields crossed by public rights of way. Do not keep them in fields with public rights of way, statutory or other types of permitted access.”

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais17ew.pdf

As a seven year old townie moved to country in 1964 we went to a local beauty spot to paddle, I turned to see a MASSIVE cow coming towards me down stream , actually just having a drink and not bothering me, but I let rip the biggest scream ever in terror me it bolted luckily away from me, then in my panic ran across grass on what I thought was a stepping stone- it was a baked cowpat!!! Full of maggots YUKKITY YUK YUK! still hate cows.......

A right of way means that people are allowed to walk it; it does not mean that it is a public amenity that farmers should have to fence off at vast expense. They are running a business - it is their livelihood. All they are obliged to do is not to obstruct it with e.g. a fence. Walkers have to use their common sense and take proper precautions around livestock.

I’d never enter a field where cows and calves are grazing. Yes it sometimes means doubling back on a walk but if that’s Frye worst that happens to you that day, smile.
Some fields have right of way, other public footpaths. Some of our local farmers put sign up advising an alternative route - others tun an electric fence leaving a path between the hedge and the electric fence, along with a sign advising walkers to keep to the hedge- cows and calves grazing.
I never saw this till lockdown 1 when our usually quiet walks became very busy.
Farmers are earning a living, we are enjoying our right to roam and should respect the farmers.

As for the increase in untrained off lead dogs chasing sheep ?

If anyone finds themselves in a bad place and has a dog- cut it loose! Dog will be fine and gives you a chance to get away, also run in zig zag

In 1990 I went for a walk with SiL and neice in pushchair and took shortcut across field on a proper Public Footpath I checked for cows etc before entering huge sloped field. We walked along defined path to about 2/3 across when I noticed about 15-20 young heifers running down field towards us! Then as I watched in a split second they literally hit full stampede speed!! We picked up pushchair between us and RAN! We have to throw niece over five bar gate at end of path and we both vaulted over as the heifers literally crashed headlong into gate!!! No signs but they had been concealed I a ha-ha type of a dip in top filed so we couldn't see them .BUT! This is a public footpath. A designated route ancient track etc etc. So why do farmers, in fact these are bought purely for fattening then selling on for slaughter not really a farmer's stock ,they could be anyone's really, why allowed to dump them where people are going to walk without warn in my signs?
On another note, all those attacked appear to have been stupid in crossing or going near cows with a dog in tow!! Really? Dogs are predators even ducks will follow a dog along a towpath to keep them in sight as they fear attack!

I agree Sago.
I’m surprised that so many don’t seem to value our ancient rights and those fought for more recently by the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass of 1932 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000.

This reminded me of our route to school in the 1950’s. From five years old we would walk through a field along a concrete pathway and there was usually a herd of cows and a couple of horses in there. I recall being terrified of the horses and would run like a bat out of hell if there was one near to the path. It wasn’t for many years later I discovered it was the cows I should have been wary of.

Raised with whom?
Do you seriously expect farmers to be legally obliged to spend thousands on fencing just so you’re not interrupted in following your carefully planned trail (perish the thought)?

I have had to move cows out of my garden and back in to their field on several occasions. I throw my arms wide and make some noise and they meekly go where I ask. I do wish walkers would close gates.
I wouldn’t enter a field where cows have calves or where there is a bull.

Part of the problem here is ignorance.
All animals are dangerous in certain circumstances and that includes humans.
There is a lot of talk about 'public footpaths' most of these are NOT public at all, they are merely a right of way over private land.
Fencing is not an option, who would maintain this, it's bad enough to incur the expense of keeping the footpath clear. Originally the paths were clear because they were walked by the local population on their way to work in the fields.
Moving the paths is not easy either as the local council and landowners would have to agree to this and again who would foot the Bill for the legal costs.

A lot of posters do not seem to understand what it it is to follow a hiking trail through countryside!
We follow public footpaths, many on a designated trail.
We do not wake up one day and decide to go tramping across random fields.
The trails have been planned, way marked and mapped so anyone can go and enjoy the benefits of walking in the great British countryside.
Sadly this is not always possible because of cattle.
More deaths/injuries seem to be occurring and I feel the matter needs to be raised.

One of my great grandmothers was trampled to death by a cow with a calf, apparently by accident. She lived in the countryside and it was a huge shock to the family.

As a child on holiday we were walking through a field and were chased by a herd of bullocks. It was very frightening and I’ve been wary of walking through fields with cows ever since, public footpath or not. Living near Richmond Park as a teen, we were well aware of the notices advising of rutting season for red deer and kept well away.

It’s obviously a very difficult issue but perhaps farmers could put up warning notices when cattle are present in fields that also have public footpaths. Dog owners should always have their dogs on leads whilst walking in the countryside.

Lilyflower

I read that sharks kill about six people a year - and so do cows.

Not sure what point you're making here but as there are far more people on land than water, this makes cows far less dangerous.

People seem to be losing sight of the fact that livestock are a farmer's livelihood.
That people like to stroll around fields is secondary.
If you're afraid of cows, take a walk elsewhere.

I read about the poor lady near Masham. Yes she had a dog with her on the lead. We also had a headteacher killed near near us in North Yorkshire this last year and he was an experienced walker.
I don’t think we can expect farmers to provide miles of fencing to keep us safe but I would not enter a field full of cows! Either go a different way or turn around. I know it’s annoying sometimes but better than being seriously injured proving a point that you have a right of way!

Cows are not just dangerous to walkers in fields. In a recent A and E tv programme a farmer was suddenly attacked by one of his cows, and badly injured. The cow as one he knew well, and there was no apparent reason why it attacked him. Luckily his wife managed to chase it away from him before he was killed.

Use a bit of common sense and stay out of any fields that have cows and calves in for a start.
It might be classed as a footpath, but doesn't mean that the farmer should stop using what is his land for it's full use, including putting livestock on it!
I certainly wouldn't go in any field with a dog and let it off it's lead - when all is said and done, the only place that you have a right to be on is the actual path . Some people see a field as free space and allow their dog to roam freely including allowing it to leave a pile and not clear it up after.
Cows have died by eating the dog poo when eating the grass it has been left on, not to mention the bags of poo that have so kindly either been left on the ground or slung into bushes and trees as a form of decoration!

Why do we have to turn this place into even more of a nanny state. If people can’t respect rural life and look after them they really shouldn’t be allowed out

Simple really keep out of fields that have livestock in them just cos there's a public right of way doesn't mean you have to use it use your commonsense

The farmer here always posts a notice at field entrances warning that the cows have calves…..this is when they are most likely to attack. So we don’t go in the field! Dogs can be a red rag to cows…..so don’t keep them on the lead…they can usually out run cows whereas you can’t! If your dog leaves the cows alone they will leave you alone. If your dog can’t be trusted with farm animals don’t walk on farmland…..farmers still have the right to shoot a cattle worrying dog. Common sense needs to prevail.

Some people seem to assume that farmers automatically have the financial means of spending thousands of pounds on fencing. Some might , but many live on a pittance. They are grazing their cattle on their own land.
A little empathy would not go amiss from walker who have many choices about where they walk. The farmers only have the land immediately around them (usually) to graze their herds.

Pick a walk that does not go through fields or find out if they are occupied or do you all just wander around willy nilly without knowing your surroundings

No. We look at the Ordnance Survey map, and plot a route using public rights of way (helpfully designated in green to indicate their status).
The 1:25000 map does indicate field boundaries, but not whether they will be used for grazing on that particular day.

It's often financially impossible for farmers to divert and fence footpaths. Firstly, fencing and it's upkeep is extraordinarily expensive. Secondly, herds are moved throughout farmer's land, to provide a continued supply of grass for as long as possible through the year. Therefore they'd have to fence every field the path encroaches on. Thirdly, planners often refuse the farmer's request to reroute a footpath to a route with less impact on their land. Rerouting would often also mean the installation of access points such as stiles, to prevent gates being left open.

I know of too many farmers who have not just sheep but also cattle attacked by loose dogs. When you enter a field with previously disinterested cattle, you cannot pressume they'll be disinterested or friendly every time. Once animals have felt threatened by humans or their pets, they're far more likely to become dangerous the next time their field is entered.