The danger of cows to walkers.

FoghornLeghorn

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.

So these idiots would put themselves in danger to enable them to exercise their ‘right’? Absolute fools.

A public footpath, marked on the definitive map, is a legal right of way. A footpath diversion has no legal status unless the landowner has gone through the full legal process for diverting a footpath. This is an expensive process. This is why the farmer cited hasn't done it.

'Rights' have to be continually asserted else they tend to be lost. The walkers who insist on taking the original footpath are protecting everyone's legal right to use it as a footpath. No such 'right' attaches to the unofficial 'diversion' the farmer has made.

You clearly have no idea about the problems associated with maintaining (in the sense of keeping them open) legal public rights of way.

I completely agree Luckygirl. I can't imagine a situation in which anyone has to walk through a field with livestock in it. If they are having a ramble they can always turn back and find another field. But there will always be those who insist on exercising their legal right to use a public right of way, regardless of the potential consequences. I see no reason to require farmers to go to the expense of fencing their livestock off.

I live in the country. I would never walk in fields where cattle are grazing, especially in the spring when they first come out and are very frisky; and if there are mothers with calves.

I recognise that that there are rights of way, but do not think the farmers should have to keep their cattle off fields with paths, nor have to fence the path off from the field. They have to use their land and rotate the grazing as best they can to run their business. If that means that there are certain times when walkers need to choose to not use the path, then so be it.

You turn a corner and these pop up!

To be honest it is difficult to walk in any field in Devon without meeting cows, so although horrible I guess the number of incidents is low.
I also take my life in my hands walking the dogs on the common where the Royal Marines practise shooting. One ran into their camp once where they were eating sausages!

I think people who cross field with herds of cows inside are foolish but if there’s a public footpath people think it’s safe otherwise it wouldn’t be signed as such. I have been chased by cows before and I’m terrified of being attacked by a bull so I’m very wary of crossing fields. I think most people believe cows are benign and they aren’t and I just find it shocking that there’s no law in place to keep cows away from public footpaths.

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.

So these idiots would put themselves in danger to enable them to exercise their ‘right’? Absolute fools.

There is some useful advice here. I personally do not have a dog. I have had to walk where cows are but kept to the very edge of the field, fortunately the cows did not bother us. I don't go into fields with livestock unless there is really no other way. Cows do frighten me as they are enormous animals. I follow the Country Code but it is certainly quite worrying that cattle herds seem to be becoming more aggresive.

You’re right Janeainsworth but my last sentence still applies.

And the same applies to zebra crossings in town...only idiots blithely step out regardless of traffic.
Pantglas If you read my posts you’ll see that nowhere have I suggested that walkers disregard the presence of cattle in a field crossed by a public right of way.
I’ve merely pointed out that the public are entitled by law to use such footpaths.
Most of them date back centuries.
It’s said that cows are now more aggressive than they used to be because of modern farming methods which has reduced their contact with human beings.
That being the case, I think farmers have a responsibility to reduce the risk of an attack on walkers who are conscientiously sticking to a legal right of way.

Sago

How can a bull be a dairy bull?

A dairy bull services dairy cows

My son was chased by a herd a few months ago. There were about 40 of them and he said they were obviously not happy and meant to harm him. He managed to make it to a gate just in time but it really shook him up. Afterwards we looked up what you're meant to do under these circumstances. Essentially if cornered make yourself as big as possible, legs spread and arms in the air. Shout and make lots of noise. The cows won't like this and will be uncertain about what to do next. Keep doing this until you can get to the nearest exit.

What puzzles me is that the pilgrim route actually goes through the village but is then signposted through the cattle field when it could continue past the field and rejoin it at the cattle free field further along.

How can a bull be a dairy bull?

Some years ago a 65 year old man from a village not far from us was trampled to death by cows whilst walking with his wife, she managed to escape. There were calves in the field at the time but they were regular walkers and well used to the countryside. Then just a couple of years ago another lady was attacked in the same area, luckily she was rescued by passers by but was very seriously injured, her dog was killed by the cows. I have always been frightened and hearing these stories terrified me, We have had some scary experiences while out walking having to leap dry stone walls to escape cattle chasing us. Now I insist on walking miles out of our way to avoid them. Better to be safe than sorry.

janeainsworth

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

And the same applies to zebra crossings in town...only idiots blithely step out regardless of traffic. Do you want to be in the right or be alive?

Thanks for that. Any idea what ‘my’ bull is? His wives are Aberdeen Angus.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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)?

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.

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.