Another walker killed by cows…..is there a solution?

My OH walks with the ramblers, but I don’t because they have to occasionally walk through fields with cattle as we live in a very rural area. They do not allow dogs on their walks, and have never had problems with cattle. Not many farmers in our area graze cattle with calves where public footpaths cross.

25Avalon

If you do walk your dog in grass fields where cows may be grazed at a later date make sure to pick up after your dog. Dog faeces can cause pregnant cows to abort. Not everyone realises this. I didn’t until a farmer friend “told me off” for letting my dog off in a stubbled field as his prize cows were in the grass field next door. I apologised profusely as I was not on a footpath. Makes you understand why farmers can get uptight.

Yes, and take all litter with you. That is a given.

I am surrounded by farms- and each farm has several dogs. They are free to roam, and I can assure you, they are the only dogs no-one picks up after.

We live beside a SSSI that currently has calves in, the farmer has also rented a field behind us, next to a steam railway line and a river, that has 250 sheep in. There are loads of fields nearby for dog walkers, but no, they must break down the fences in the farmers fields and trespass. Leaving dog mess, dog bags, rubbish everywhere. Every day the sheep get out onto the housing estate because of the ignorant public prioritising dog walking over the interests and safety of the animals. The farmer repairs fencing every single day because of it. The sheep are a local talking point (usually fun, due to their exploits), that won’t continue if they run into a road and cause an accident. This is entirely down to entitled people. The kids that go into the SSSI drive me mad, it’s so dangerous and it’s an SSSI for a reason.

Katie59

My brother has a large meadow with a footpath crossing, cattle and horses regularly graze it, he has fenced the footpath off because he is fed up with walkers that are too stupid to obey the rules.

I can assure you I can read and have been into further education.
I find your comment about calling people stupid extremely offensive. When we walked into a bull there were no farmer's signs or Historical Houses signs warning of there was,near the end of the track a bull.
There was a Bill passed by Parliament many years ago called "The right to roam.", which gave access to city people or "Stupid" as you choose to call them the right to use the countryside. When people walk on designated footpaths this is what they are doing.

MaizieD

Katie59

My brother has a large meadow with a footpath crossing, cattle and horses regularly graze it, he has fenced the footpath off because he is fed up with walkers that are too stupid to obey the rules.

I don't get this, Katie59. What 'rules' are these walkers too stupid to follow?

As far as I'm aware there is a legal requirement to stay on the footpath, but apart from that, what else is there?

Correct, but they ignore the rules and roam where they want and let dogs run free.

The reality is farmers have to do all they can to avoid anyone getting injured. If it does happen the HSE will prosecute and the jury will always find for the victim.

There was a Bill passed by Parliament many years ago called "The right to roam.", which gave access to city people or "Stupid" as you choose to call them the right to use the countryside. When people walk on designated footpaths this is what they are doing.

Scotland has the Right to Roam plus a few other areas, even then it does not apply everywhere

www.gov.uk/guidance/open-access-land-management-rights-and-responsibilities#what-people-can-do-on-your-land

Here is the law in England and Wales. All those with issues, I suggest you lobby your MP for change!!
Please remember the countryside is only how it is because those that own it create the kind of environment where the public might wish to visit. The countryside is a place of work, of business, and ultimately not for the absolute convenience of those at leisure.

Katie59 'Correct, but they ignore the rules and roam where they want and let dogs run free.'

that is not fair. Many of us a) understand the countryside and b) respect it and love it.

Reminds me of that other thread running, about exageration and tarring all with same brush.

I bet that in Scotland, and in other countries witgh right to roam- there are a lot less issues.

In a lot of cases, it depends what you class as a field. One of my favourite routes takes a designated footpath along the edge of open moorland onto one of the Peak District’s gritstone edges. We walked this path for years without seeing cattle until one weekend we suddenly seemed to be in among highland cattle who were docile enough, but also several young bullocks of a non highland breed, one of which straddled the path we were walking on. I moved off the path and gave him a wide berth, but he came up behind me and with a nudge, knocked me clean off my feet. I got up and DH came and tried to shoo him away but he wouldn’t be shooed until DH waved his rucksack at him. No fences, no walls, designated and well worn right of way. There should at least have been signage.

I have been walking in the Peak District since I was a child and cattle roaming on moorland never used to be an issue. One of the large National Trust moorland estates regularly run quite large herds, but there are signs all over the place warning you of the dangers, especially if cows have calves in tow, and asking you to avoid them or approach them with care and what to do if you have a dog with you.

As for right to roam, I have been told many times by foreign visitors that we are lucky in this country to have access to so many places to walk freely. There has been something of a crusade recently to encourage people who might not otherwise use the countryside for leisure to do so. Yes, education is needed, but it works both ways.

Katie59

MaizieD

Katie59

My brother has a large meadow with a footpath crossing, cattle and horses regularly graze it, he has fenced the footpath off because he is fed up with walkers that are too stupid to obey the rules.

I don't get this, Katie59. What 'rules' are these walkers too stupid to follow?

As far as I'm aware there is a legal requirement to stay on the footpath, but apart from that, what else is there?

Correct, but they ignore the rules and roam where they want and let dogs run free.

The reality is farmers have to do all they can to avoid anyone getting injured. If it does happen the HSE will prosecute and the jury will always find for the victim.

I own land, I have a footpath over one of my paddocks and I maintain the stile so it is safe, and we cut a path through so it is clear where the path runs. I do this because it is my legal responsibility. I use footpaths on a regular basis and I just wish other landowners did too. I used to keep horses in that field and had a sign which asked walkers to keep their dogs on a lead, if they didn't and one of my horses kicked it, I would feel sorry for the dog and it's owner but as I had a fence along the footpath, then that would be their responsibility not mine. Actually, all my horses have been used to dogs so I doubt they would have kicked out unless the dog was trying to worry them! You will always get stupid people but the law is very clear when it comes to footpaths (just try moving one!) The general public has access so it is in the interests of the owner to make it safe.

I bet you didn’t know this as I didn’t and I’m the wife of a farm manager, (although we don’t have cattle) as seen in a Facebook post from a farmer in Cumbria:
Sadly we have lost two calves in the past few weeks due to abortion. They have both been confirmed to be Neospora. This is a parasite that’s picked up from dog poo!! It’s amazing how many people have no idea about it. Not only have we lost two calves but the mothers also will now have to be culled. This is truly heartbreaking for us and many other farmers who have had the same problem. Please please pick up your dog poo and bin it.
I’d appreciate it if you can share this to make people aware of the damage it can do.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neospora_caninum

Yes I referred to cow abortion earlier.

Somebody pointed out that farmers don’t pick up after their own dogs. How is that so.

It was mentioned upthread.

I suppose if they lived near the farm they were used to walking in the fields with the cows in without anything happening. Cows are very inquisitive, so I imagine they must have encountered them before. However, it is a sad story

There is an experienced older farmer in Scotland who has been on TV killed by his Holstein cows. The HSE are investigating.

The inhumane way animals are treated is a huge factor

Stay clear just to be safe

I live near a country park where I and many others walk their dogs. Last year fences were put up across fields as there was a plan to move a small herd of cows, Belted Galloways, into the County park to keep the gorse and weeds down. They were meant to have been moved in the autumn but so far have not appeared. I’m wondering if the recent tragic deaths involving cattle has made the council have second thoughts. The fencing and gates that have been built must have cost tens of thousands to erect. Yet another example of the council not thinking things through and wasting tax payers money.

25Avalon

There is an experienced older farmer in Scotland who has been on TV killed by his Holstein cows. The HSE are investigating.

This will always be a risk for farmers and farm workers I guess but the only solution for walkers is to never cross a field with cattle in it.

25Avalon

There is an experienced older farmer in Scotland who has been on TV killed by his Holstein cows. The HSE are investigating.

This was a very concerning story.
If an experienced is stockman killed by one if his own animals no public footpaths should be go through land that is grazed by cattle.

footpaths originated as a route to work for people on foot - they were never intended for leisure. Hence why they go straight across farmers fields and not round headlands etc. No cattle are safe. None. You cannot expect farmers to fence footpaths tho some that can afford it do so.

Farmers are regularly injured by cattle, deaths are not uncommon at all, most dangerous is a cow with an newborn calf, sows with piglets are dangerous too

Most of the people I know that deal with cattle have been injured by them at some point ( usually broken legs). One is lucky to be alive. I did mention the other year that the field behind us is part of a pilgrim route and every summer has cows, their calves and a bull in it. I’m sure it’s an accident waiting to happen as it’s a huge field and the footpath cuts right through the middle of it. Cows are often on a different half of the footpath to their calves. There’s nowhere to escape to.

25Avalon

Yes I referred to cow abortion earlier.

Farm dogs have to be regularly wormed and vaccinated which reduces the risk, although contamination from wildlife is a bigger risk, deer, foxes, badgers, rats, many others including birds

We need to heighten awareness of the behaviour that can reasonably be expected of animals.

Whether you live in England that has public footpaths, or in Scotland that has no law of trespass, so you legally can walk on anyone's land at any time, anyone brought up in the country knows that you should never cross or enter a field where cows are grazing, and that dogs should be kept on the lead AT ALL TIMES in sheep country, as well as near cows.

The onus is not on farmers to not graze their animals where the public might want to walk. Animals obey their instincts, pure and simple.

Humans are supposed to be capable of rational thought and should therefore, if they enjoying walking, trekking or the like, USE THEIR BRAINS.

I make no apology whatsoever to those who think I am being harsh. I am sick and tired of hearing city people denigrating the farming community who are providing their food.

Listening to the worst of the city people, I feel you want a country without any animals whatsoever any where you want to be, and the right to walk where you want, irrespective of whether you are trampling down corn, harrying sheep, or frightening cows into behaving as frightened cows do.