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

How does an area in a field become a public footpath? If the farmer has the right to place livestock in the area how has this come about, who has granted the permission? Public and animals not always compatible. Brought up in the countryside and would never enter a field with livestock, never mind with young. A cow is a very weighty creature doesn't take much to have you on the ground. Haven't seen the article.

Having been chased by a herd of cows as a child, there’s no way I would go into a field with cattle nowadays.

I never walk in a field with cattle. It's potentially dangerous. Even when there is a public footpath I don't do it. If I can't see cows I still look for cow pats and if they are recent ones I am very wary. Perhaps a footpath society should raise money to pay farmers to fence paths.

A public footpath can be created in a number of ways but generally they are paths that have been used by the public for at least 20 years, with the knowledge but without the express permission of the landowner, to get from A to B.

I grew up in the depths of the country surrounded by dairy farms, and my sister and I were always roaming completely freely. We never for a nanosecond considered cows to be dangerous, and were never bothered by them, although we had respect for them. We didn’t have a dog. I’ve been really surprised and shocked to hear of people being killed and injured by cows. I can only think perhaps it’s the way they are raised now. They always seemed such docile creatures when I was a child.

We were climbing up a mountain side in Austria when 2 of those beautiful cows with bells round their necks and horns blocked the narrow path. Rather than argue with them we did a long climb back up the mountain and went down another way. I bought a cowbell as a souvenir. That was in 1967 on our honeymoon. They were quite menacing and I am sure they would have gored us if we had gone up to them.

I doubt that the cows can tell the difference a lovely, friendly pet dog and a wolf? As prey animals they're instinctively wary of dogs/wolves. DH and I often walk through the local farmer's cow field. We've never been or felt in danger but then we respect the animals as the 2 ton lump of instinct that they are. Even more so when they have calves with them. We also walk on Beverley Westwood where the bullocks are roaming free all summer. Again with no issues. Simply respect the animals' space.

One of my favourite strolls has a new landowner who obviously doesn't want people walking past his house. He has installed a herd of highland cattle, bull, cows, calves the lot - job done, no passersby. This is on Yorkshire moorland more suitable for sheep.

I agree with grannygravy.

grandtanteJE65 I live in a rural area which is popular with tourists.. There are many local businesses that rely on tourism and most of the pubs and accommodation are dog friendly. We usually take two holidays away with our dog and enjoy long walks using footpaths, these days we can use phone apps to find our way. Although I agree totally that it's best to avoid fields with livestock, it just isn't always possible. I have no problem with farmers using their fields as they wish but they do have a legal responsibility with regard to keeping footpaths safe for walkers. I know some local farmers who deliberately take footpath signs down and then get annoyed when walkers stray onto private land. I feel very privileged to live in a beautiful place and I have no problem with anyone living elsewhere enjoying it too Keeping footpaths safe and warning people if there are livestock which might be a problem is just common sense.

The following is the advice given by Farmer's Weekly.

"What are the rules regarding cows in fields with footpaths?

With cattle rather than bulls it is a matter of following best practice. Where possible, cows that are calving or which have calves at foot should be kept away from fields crossed by the public; again temporary fencing can be considered where this is not feasible.

It can be helpful to make sure the public rights of way are well waymarked and unobstructed to avoid people wandering off the correct route and into areas of danger.

Finally, it is imperative to have the appropriate public liability insurance in place."

Footpaths are well signed here but most if not all say dogs must be kept on a lead which I do. Still find footpaths in fields where cows appear without warning where I wouldn’t walk my dog even on a lead.

A farm is a business. where a farmer earns a living. Cattle can't read, they make up their own rules. I don't like the idea of walking right through the middle of a field especially with a valuable crop growing. If there is a right of way from one side of a field to the other ,I would prefer to walk round the edge, (not disturbing the wildlife corridor. )
Would anyone expect to walk through a factory?

Don’t walk a dog in fields with cows. It’s almost always people with a dog who get attacked.

Surely if a footpath is marked on an Ordnance Survey map, it is a designated public footpath. If the paths are on Access Land, they are marked as such and there is no automatic right to roam, but different usage criteria apply that the public should be aware of. I live surrounded by farm land and we had several public footpaths closed here recently, mostly across fields that are grazing areas for horses, and frankly, I’m more afraid of horses than I am of cattle.

I would just avoid fields with cows in

Being marked on an OS map doesn’t make a track a public footpath. The OS have merely noted the physical existence of a track. The Definitive Maps maintained by highway authorities show public footpaths and bridleways.

The farmer is bound by law not to place dangerous animals in fields where there is a public footpath (Occupiers Liability Act 1984) and can be prosecuted for an injury incurred by a walker on their land. In some cases the Act can apply even where the victim is trespassing.
That said it is extremely unwise to walk a dog in a field with cows, and when the cows have calves.

Fleurpepper

GrannyGravy13

Don’t walk anywhere near livestock, just because a footpath goes through a farmers land doesn’t mean you have to use it.

I apologise if that sounds harsh and I have deepest sympathy for the deceased’s friends and family.

Animals especially in a herd can be unpredictable.

So, if a farmer does not want people to use a public footpath, all he has to do is to put cattle there year round, and no public.

Clever that!

Public footpaths are public and should be made safe. Cows with calves should not be grazed where public has access.

Oh those clever farmers, just pop some cows in the way.
It's the other way around. Public footpaths date from the time farmers had to cross each-other's land to reach their own fields. Public footpaths are not created for leisure, only you are allowed to use them for your leisure - taking all safety measures required.

I bow to your expertise, GSM.

Milest0ne

A farm is a business. where a farmer earns a living. Cattle can't read, they make up their own rules. I don't like the idea of walking right through the middle of a field especially with a valuable crop growing. If there is a right of way from one side of a field to the other ,I would prefer to walk round the edge, (not disturbing the wildlife corridor. )
Would anyone expect to walk through a factory?

We are talking about PUBLIC footpaths.
There are thousands of keen walkers like myself who enjoy spending time in the countryside, we abide by the rules and would never dream of marching across a field of crops or deviating from the designated footpath.

The green dashed line (on OS Explorer maps) or pink dashed line (on OS Landranger maps) are footpaths with a public right of way. They are legally protected routes that the public may use by foot.19 Jul 2018

Milest0ne

A farm is a business. where a farmer earns a living. Cattle can't read, they make up their own rules. I don't like the idea of walking right through the middle of a field especially with a valuable crop growing. If there is a right of way from one side of a field to the other ,I would prefer to walk round the edge, (not disturbing the wildlife corridor. )
Would anyone expect to walk through a factory?

It might seem sensible to walk around a field when the path goes through crops but technically to walk anywhere but the designated footpath is trespassing. Farmers have a duty to restore a public footpath if it has been ploughed. Sadly some landowners do not always adhere to laws in respect of public footpaths and some block footpaths with gates and barbed wire (in which case they should be reported to the local authority. It is not all one way, however, and wakkers must respect the landowners’ property and refrain from dropping litter or causing any kind of damage

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.

You've still not told me what these 'rules' are, Katie59.

What are they, who made them and how are they enforced?

walkers