Bull in field that has a public footpath going across it….

We had a very frightening incident in a field of cows , we didn’t have a dog with us and didn’t notice calves and have been very wary since.

cornishpatsy

Is it a public right of way or a short cut across the farmers land?

It’s a public footpath which is part of a pilgrim route.

I agree MOnica, I had a similar experience. About ten years ago bullocks roamed the fields surrounding our cricket club. I had one of the suede coats with fur down the front, and was walking along the path with my two children to the club, when they suddenly made a bee line for me, about four of them running really fast. All three of us managed to jump the fence just in time, I was really shaken. Several more incidents of this happened before the Duke agreed to fence it off.

Is it a public right of way or a short cut across the farmers land?

Bullocks are a danger, I would say as dangerous as cows with calves. They are boisterous and curious and, unlike dairy cows are not used to a lot of human handling. At least this is what my farmer cousin tells me.

When AC were small we were walking, on a footpath through a field that, thankfully, hugged the fence. A herd of bullocks galloped up to inspect us and were beginning to jostle us. Thankfully the field boundary was barbed wire with a dry ditch beyond . I told children to get under the fence and into the ditch fast and I followed them pdq.

My cousin told me I had done the right thing.

MayBee70

Whitewavemark2

MayBee70

It’s such a long field I doubt if people realise there are cattle in it. A pavement runs adjacent to it. It would be no further to walk along the pavement. The problem is that it’s a pilgrim route so I assume if you don’t follow the exact route it doesn’t count as a pilgrimage?

Cheat

Just imagine getting to the pearly gates and being refused entrance because you took a small diversion to avoid being trampled on…..

???

I believe the advice is that if you are walking with a dog on a lead through a field of cows & calves and the cows attack, to let go of the dog because the cows will go for the dog rather than a person.

Horrid, I know, but the dog can probably outrun a cow if it's fit.

What did it look like? Did it have a White face? Was it all Black with short legs? Was it Black and white?
(Just trying to think of usual characteristics of dairy and beef breeds - can anyone help me out here? I've quickly thought - Hereford, Angus, Friesian ........

Whitewavemark2

MayBee70

It’s such a long field I doubt if people realise there are cattle in it. A pavement runs adjacent to it. It would be no further to walk along the pavement. The problem is that it’s a pilgrim route so I assume if you don’t follow the exact route it doesn’t count as a pilgrimage?

Cheat

Just imagine getting to the pearly gates and being refused entrance because you took a small diversion to avoid being trampled on…..

Yes, I remember that happening.

Few years ago nr Belford in Northumberland a family on holiday walked across public footpath field when one of the cows tossed the woman out of the field. She died. It was so sad.

MayBee70

It’s such a long field I doubt if people realise there are cattle in it. A pavement runs adjacent to it. It would be no further to walk along the pavement. The problem is that it’s a pilgrim route so I assume if you don’t follow the exact route it doesn’t count as a pilgrimage?

Cheat

A chap we know through dog walking was in a field with cows and calves and the cows decided he and his dog were a threat and pushed him and trod on him, he suffered broken ribs and other injuries.

Imo the chap made a poor judgement by thinking that the cows would not be frightened of the dogs and defend their calves.

It’s such a long field I doubt if people realise there are cattle in it. A pavement runs adjacent to it. It would be no further to walk along the pavement. The problem is that it’s a pilgrim route so I assume if you don’t follow the exact route it doesn’t count as a pilgrimage?

A family member was walking across a field on footpath with his well behaved welsh border collie on a lead, the land was part of a stately home. He was attacked by a herd of cows, the dog got away but he almost died, chest crushed etc, and was in hospital for weeks.

Years ago I too was surrounded by cows when walking by dog, on lead, on footpath. Luckily the farmer came along and recued us. Cows see the dog as a threat, especially when they have young.

I would never risk going into a field of cows or bull, with a dog, whatever the signs said.

BlueBelle

I would never walk through a field of cows or a bull They are blooming big and can do a mass of damage We once went for a walk which was by a field of highland cattle there was some kind of low barrier nothing much and I wouldn’t even walk outside their field I went back and waited in the car park
Really find them too big and scary

Another friend of mine was very lucky to survive an attack by a Highland cow she’d recently acquired. Unknown to her it was pregnant and she got between the cow and her calf. It almost killed her. It’s no wonder I’m paranoid about cattle!

I know some breeds are more volatile than others. The bullocks that chased me were (I think) Charolais. Huge beasts they were. A farming friend told me that cows are highly intelligent: more intelligent than horses according to her (although I’ve never seen horses on her farm).

I would never walk through a field of cows or a bull They are blooming big and can do a mass of damage We once went for a walk which was by a field of highland cattle there was some kind of low barrier nothing much and I wouldn’t even walk outside their field I went back and waited in the car park
Really find them too big and scary

Blimey. Must show my friend's husband this thread. He thinks I'm a right wuss for refusing to walk across a field of cows!

Incidentally, as MayBee70 has asked above, why are dairy bulls not ok but non dairy are? Would really like to know!

The farmer should put up a notice MayBee70, cows with calves are dangerously protective. A family were walking through a field here two years ago and the grandmother was killed by the mother cow.

Why are dairy bulls not ok but non dairy are?

It is legal if it’s not a dairy breed and with cows - for company.
However it’s not good practice, the farm next to us has fenced the footpath off to keep walkers away from cattle and in this case horses as well.
Farmers opinion is, animals are unpredictable, walkers are stupid, walking dogs through cattle is dangerous even I wouldnt do it.

I’m very wary of cattle in general after being pinned into the corner of a field by some large bullocks whilst walking my dog years ago. And I’ve got three friends who have all been injured by their own cattle. I would hope that there’s a sign on the field to say there’s a bull in it. I might go and have a look tomorrow. D H saw a cow run a fox out of the field last year that was bothering her so they can’t half move when they want to!

Blossoming

Perfectly legal, as long as the bull is with cows or heifers and isn’t a recognised dairy breed. I’d be more wary of cows with calves, they become dry protective.

There are cows with young calves in the field with him. It’s a huge field and the footpath cuts through the middle of it. I often see people walking between cows and their calves. It really worries me. They aren’t dairy cattle, though.

NotTooOld

DiscoDancer - for future reference I think cows can swim!

Oh no?. Thank goodness I never knew that at the time! Thank you?