a warning to all

[mole]

I have a 3 year old and we have cows and I am sick to the stomach after reading about this horrific incident!
Your poor poor little girl! I am so happy to hear that she is on the mend.

Most of the cows calve inside up until March and some of them can be very protective, particularly the Angus's, by the time they go out they have settled.
However I will be sending this link on to my OH to reinforce the need for caution when it is so easy to become complacent.

The very best of wishes to you and your little girl, wishing her a speedie recovery.

please be so careful as the cow targeted my daughter not me (kept butting me away and trampling me whenever i went in to save my girl then wld go back to mauling her) - not sure why and guess will never know.

 

[attheponies]

How absolutely terrifying, I do hope your daughter makes a full and speedy recovery.

Maesfen - I thought Friesians had one of the worst reputations, certainly we sadly lost a local farmer who was attacked and killed by his new Freisian bull?

 

[brighteyes]

You are safer on horseback than on foot, as they don't tend to perceive a horse as a danger to them

Ha! I could tell you a story about THAT!

Aye, Limmis, Simmis and Jerseys with calves at foot are bad news, though it was a Belgian Blue gave me a dose of jelly legs.

 

[brighteyes]

Friesian cows are OK normally and continental bulls - friesian bulls and continental cows are another matter! Or so my neighbour maintains.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Its rare for people to be attacked unless trying to do something with the cattle or unless with a dog, this is a very rare horrendous exception, you poor thing!!

It isnt possible for cattle farmers not to put cows/calves in any of their field with footpaths on every occasion, the field is there for the farm and the livestock, and some farms are riddled with footpaths.

I would also suspect this was a Limmie or Simmie (Limousin or Simmental) from the colouring. Limmies are reknowned for being a bit mad and a bit flighty. I wouldnt trust either breed's cows in general.

Beef breed bulls are not often an issue in the field esp if with cows, they are generally ok then, the cows are the danger. Dairy breed bulls cannot be kept in a public footpath crossed field as they have been bred and bred and bred for milk genetics and nothing for temperament and very often spend most of their time stuck in a bull pen, going quietly insane, and are generally very unreliable. Most farmers dont keep dairy bulls, they use AI on their dairy cows, partly for convenience but partly cos of the dangers.

I cross a field of cows and calves (Charolais and Angus) almost daily on horseback and do not find any problems. I skirt them by a wide margin and being on the horse they take little notice of me. Bullocks when in there are much more nosey and will follow you right on the horses tail so you need a good horse, but apart from their heavy breathing they also have done us no harm. I would never take a dog through there if I could avoid it and only a child if I could carry them.

Farmers are not supposed to put up signs which would have the effect of seemingly trying to discourage people from using a public footpath, so they cant put up Beware of the Bull etc. Nor can any sign stay up when the cattle arent in the field so it gets very complicated.

Personally I think this is the one time where farmers would not mind a temporary diversion by walkers to the nearest safe alternative route - they know if anything happens they will be liable, and they may still need to use the footpath field. So if uncomfy with a field of cattle, skirt round the margin of the next field would be my policy. There is a clause about danger and obstruction that allows you to do this I think.

Where a simple factual sign would be helpful is in fields where the cattle may be not visible to someone entering the field.

 

[martlin]

Friesian cows are OK normally and continental bulls - friesian bulls and continental cows are another matter! Or so my neighbour maintains.

To be honest, you just don't see Friesian/Holstein cows out with calves at foot. I would hazard a guess they would equally dangerous.

 

[Rollin]

Terrifying. I am so please your child is on the mend.

 

[jinglejoys]

"Personally I think this is the one time where farmers would not mind a temporary diversion by walkers to the nearest safe alternative route - they know if anything happens they will be liable, and they may still need to use the footpath field. So if uncomfy with a field of cattle, skirt round the margin of the next field would be my policy. There is a clause about danger and obstruction that allows you to do this I think."

Gawd forbid you should mention this to the ramblers...they have their rights and they are going to use them no matter how foolish or awkward it is for anyone else who actually live and work in the countryside.

 

[minesadouble]

We have commercial cattle. All calves by Limmys or Belgian Blue bulls and cows are a real mix but have to say, out of our lot the Angus Cows are the worst, the limmys are more 'highly strung' types and are more likely to be nervy than aggressive.

We have a 400 strong suckler herd and I have to say if you leave them alone they generally won't bother you - it's when you have to sit on their calves to tag them that they may get upset!! We have a mare and foal running out with some cows and calves at home so we have no choice but to mix with them!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

"Personally I think this is the one time where farmers would not mind a temporary diversion by walkers to the nearest safe alternative route - they know if anything happens they will be liable, and they may still need to use the footpath field. So if uncomfy with a field of cattle, skirt round the margin of the next field would be my policy. There is a clause about danger and obstruction that allows you to do this I think."

Gawd forbid you should mention this to the ramblers...they have their rights and they are going to use them no matter how foolish or awkward it is for anyone else who actually live and work in the countryside.

True although I reckon the sort of ramblers you mention are already well aware of all the legislation and clauses!! So will make little difference to them.

 

[maree t]

Speedy recovery to you both. To be honest I love looking at cows from the other side of the fence but will never go into a field with them because I am too nervous of them. I think next time OH takes the mickey I might just be telling him your story. We are lucky to not have to use bridlepaths through the fields locally it is only really when we are away that we can end up confronted with a field of cows. I wouldnt have walked through an ajoining field to avoid them and have always just turned back.
I hope that your daughter isyoung enough for the terror of the attack to fade quickly. As for you , wine and chocolate probably best !!

 

[kibob]

How terrifying for you both. Hope your poor daughter recovers and forgets quickly.

 

[Spudlet]

"Personally I think this is the one time where farmers would not mind a temporary diversion by walkers to the nearest safe alternative route - they know if anything happens they will be liable, and they may still need to use the footpath field. So if uncomfy with a field of cattle, skirt round the margin of the next field would be my policy. There is a clause about danger and obstruction that allows you to do this I think."

I wish I'd known that the last time I met a load of mooks (what we refer to cows as in my family). I could have legged over a gate and saved myself a couple of miles of walking! I thought about it, but I was just too chicken so ended up tamping along the road for ages, cursing all cows (and farmers).