The danger of cows to walkers.

Josieann

That really shook me up when I read it. We have cows roaming where we walk with the dogs and we always keep a respectful distance. I'm not sure what the best answer is for everyone, walkers and farmers.

You don’t have much choice if there’s a public footpath through them! Perhaps farmers should allow walkers to divert from the public footpath if they are grazing the field? Certainly the miserable landowners around here are very abusive if you try doing that! We farmed for years and always made sure our footpaths were accessible without risking walking through cows.

Growing up in Scotland, where there is no law about trespassing - you can in principle quite legally walk anywhere you like, we were taught never to go into or across a field that had cows or any other animals in it. Usually you could find a road or path round the fields.

If not, and you decided to risk a short cut across a field with animals in it, you only did so, if the animals in question were not anything with young. And stayed near the fence so you could hop over it if things got scary.

At no time was it advisable to cross a field of Highland cattle or Aberdeen Angus.

Rams butt intruders, stallions may well attack too, goats take a wicked delight in butting people, but were largely unknown in Scotland in the 1950s.

Use your common sense and remember to CLOSE THE GATES BEHIND YOU, which seen from the stockholder's point of view is much more important than anything else.

People who grow up in towns need to be aware of the realities of country life - if a person from one of the Outer Isles that has about two cars on it , comes to Glasgow we expect him to know how to behave in traffic, so why don't we expect town people to know how to behave around animals?

We always only stick to Public Rights of Way when out walking in the countryside. However, as some annex a field full of cattle, we often have to retrace our steps to avoid the cattle. It's a pity that these Rights of Way are not completely fenced off, but understand that cost is probably the reason. A fence would ensure that Rights of Way could be used at all times (as per the law) and would protect any animals from walkers and/or their dogs.

grandtantejE65, very well put indeed. At the end of the day, it all comes down to using a bit of common sense and respect. Unfortunately, those seem to be commodities which are sadly lacking in some people now.

Our son in law has a dairy farm.From their point of view they would like walkers to respect the cattle and the farmers.
Last summer so many dog walkers didn’t pick up after their dogs that the cows had to be housed in the winter sheds as the dog excrement is dangerous for the cows.

Our friend is a local dairy farmer. One of the fields where his herd grazes has a public right of way through it. To protect both his cattle and the public he diverted the right of way around the field and fenced it in. The new path is about 100 yards from the original path. He put up a polite sign explaining the diversion of the path. Three times walkers have broken the new fence down because 'it's their right to walk the original path as it's a public right of way'. Common sense? Not so common it seems.

AreWeThereYet

Our friend is a local dairy farmer. One of the fields where his herd grazes has a public right of way through it. To protect both his cattle and the public he diverted the right of way around the field and fenced it in. The new path is about 100 yards from the original path. He put up a polite sign explaining the diversion of the path. Three times walkers have broken the new fence down because 'it's their right to walk the original path as it's a public right of way'. Common sense? Not so common it seems.

No, they would like him to observe the legalities of diverting a footpath. Fencing it and putting up a new sign won't legally suffice.

I said earlier, it's not a cheap thing to do. That's why the farmer hasn't done it...

Sago

EllenVannin You may not be aware but known trails such as the Wolds way, Minster way etc take walkers through land grazed with cattle.
We have been near the end of a 12 mile hike to earth faced with a field full of cattle!

We don’t get up in the morning and decide we’re going to walk through random fields of cattle.

This happened to us in this area we got to the end of a walk on the Woulds only to be confronted by a bull in a field full of cows. We also encountered the same at a country house that had a marked circular walk near the end there was a bull. We had to make a big detour. We know farmers and can see it from their point of view as well though they say they always carry a stick themselves. Beef cattle do not come into contact with humans like milk cattle did and are more easily frightened.

Back in the 60s, a group of us young 'townies' used to have camping weekends in Sussex. There was a farmer (friend of the family of one of the townies) who allowed us to pitch our tents on the edge of his field of cows - in a little coppice of trees and shrubs.

In the evening, we used to walk across the field to get to the pub, and then back again much later. The cows would sometimes follow us at a distance - if we stopped and turned to look at them, they stopped following and stared back, resuming walking as we did. They lost interest as soon as we got closer to the road near the pub, or later, the coppice where we were camped.

I had absolutely no idea of the danger we might have placed ourselves in! The only advice the farmer gave us was that we should not chase them, nor make a 'din' - which we wouldn't have done anyway Apart from a little strumming of an acoustic guitar late at night with a few songs round the campfire (he allowed that, too). I admit we were respectful of both the environment and the animals, and cleared up properly before we left.

One very wet weekend, he came to visit us to see if we were coping with the weather - his wife had offered us girls their spare bedroom.

We did this for about 2 years... if I'd known then what I know now...

ExDancer

Cows with calves will be protective and will attack anything they deem menacing. Usually cows on their own will just be curious, but they are big animals and can damage you without intending to.
Generally beef cows are less aggressive than dairy breeds but thats a sweeping statement and not to be relied on.
If you're in a field with cows they will tend to come over and check you out, walk slowly and don't wave your arms about or make a noise, stay by the hedge.
The best thing to do if you have a dog is to let go of it's lead, your dog can run faster than the cows and faster than you, and the cows will chase the dog.
Cows are domesticated but they are not pets (well some are, most aren't) so don't try to make friends with them or feed them.
I'm a farmer's wife and I'm not afraid of cows, but I treat them with respect and give them the space they need.

There was a thread about this last year. Someone said that it was ok to have a beef bull in a field but not a dairy bull ( or was it the other way round). The field at the back of us is part of a pilgrim route and, in the summer has cows, calves and a bull in it. The route goes right through the middle of what is a very long field with no cover. It worries me seeing walkers cutting across it. Someone was killed by cows in a nearby village.

I wish people would follow the country code and respect farmers land and animals. Breeding time’s or the rut if a land owner has deer can be a very dangerous time for the public and if you think cow’s are dangerous try walking through a herd of hinds with young.
I have seen so many idiots walking through fields just because they can and it’s their right to do so it makes me angry. Where’s the respect for the countryside and it’s farming?
Go and walk in a bloody country park at certain times of the year and stay away from livestock it won’t kill you to not walk one less field with animals in it , go on another route.
Yes some people do get stupid about it’s their right to roam but they are the ignorant people who don’t understand country living.

I work on a ranch so am just adding some pointers.
If cattle approach, or are too close, get aggressive. Waive your arms or walking stick. “Hey Hey Hey!”
If you run, there’s a good chance they will chase you, if out of curiosity if nothing else. Stay away from cows with brand new calves.
Cows are usually passive and avoid confrontation. However, if you have a dog, and cows have calves, they can become protective. Keep dogs leashes and away from cows with calves.

toscalily
I do sense a degree of entitlement here "I will walk where I want, when I want, how I want" If the footpath is on the farmers land, you have the right of way but it is still his land

No one has suggested they are entitled to “walk where I want, when I want, how I want".
All that has been suggested is the Public Rights of Way should be safe for anyone to walk.
The Land Registry defines a public right of way as
Public rights of way are rights across land exercisable by the public, and which allow them to pass along them at any time they choose

So yes, the public, whether they are town dwellers or country dwellers, are entitled to use thrr we m

Sorry accidentally touched post.
Should read ‘are entitled to use them in the expectation that it’s safe to do so’.

Nicegranny

Oh dear!

The post is about public rights of way.

I have asked in the post how this could be changed for the
benefit of farmers and walkers.

I have huge respect for farmers and the countryside.

One day I was out for a walk with my then partner when I realised we were walking on a footpath through a field of Highland cattle I suggested we turned back as there was no fence to keep them in he said it was fine so I turned back and went and waited in the car park while he carried on his walk
Everything was ok but there was no way I was walking through them big boys

There was a woman killed by a cow in Belford Northumberland a few years ago. She was on the public bridleway. Sorry I don’t know how to put the link up but just type “Belford holidaymaker killed by cow” it should come up. I remember the farmer being taken to court over it. Personally I won’t go across a field with cows/bullocks in even if it is a public footpath. I know a farmer locally also has a bull loose in a field that has public footpath going through it!

BlueBelle

One day I was out for a walk with my then partner when I realised we were walking on a footpath through a field of Highland cattle I suggested we turned back as there was no fence to keep them in he said it was fine so I turned back and went and waited in the car park while he carried on his walk
Everything was ok but there was no way I was walking through them big boys

My friend has Highland Cattle and was almost killed by one the other year.

Cows don't like dogs. I do not know what the correct procedure is if you have a dog with you and happen upon a herd of cows. It must be difficult if you live in the country. Perhaps someone on here would know what you should do. I'm sorry about what happened to the lady, it was awful for her.

Pepper59

Cows don't like dogs. I do not know what the correct procedure is if you have a dog with you and happen upon a herd of cows. It must be difficult if you live in the country. Perhaps someone on here would know what you should do. I'm sorry about what happened to the lady, it was awful for her.

I would like to know that too. Do you try to protect your dog or drop the lead and hope it runs off (faster than the cows)?

Sorry ExDancer, I've just read back and found your post. Thank you.

A few years ago we had to exit a field rapidly after some cows started lumbering towards us. Relating the tale to my cousin, a farmer, he said his grandfather, also a farmer, taught him never to go into a field without a stick! I just never go into a field with cows in now!

An elderly man walking his dog on a public footpath across a field with just 4 cattle in it was killed last year, in the next village over.
I refuse to walk in any fields with cattle now, despite farming for many years, least of all if the dog’s with me.

Keep your dog on a lead but,if the cows or cattle look menacing, let the dog go. DH saw a cow attack a fox in the field a year or so ago so I assume they regard dogs as predator.

Cows seriously injure people every year. When it’s a case of someone’s life being in danger there should be fenced off footpaths. If a footpath is a right of way then it should be safe to use it and it’s ridiculous to say otherwise.

Oh and it’s dairy bulls that are dangerous.