Cows on walking routes!

[SquashedFlyBiscuit]

Can anyone advise me about staying safe when walking through cows?

There is land near me we like to walk on (National Trust but not a "property" and not busy) that often had cows on it, but today they were in the main bit between us and the car. Also there is a council owned area we like to walk in that has zones the cattle graze in - these are usually nowhere near us but occasionally theres a couple of cows on the path.

Some of them have horns which scars me, alhough google has just reassured me its not so much the horns ti be scared of as the trampling to death....

I know cattle attacks are rare, and usually towards people with dogs. Hoeever where we walk often has lots of dog walkers.

I've become far more anxious this year and now want to know what I ought to do if walking through a field with kids and cows are walking over to see us. Or how to walk through a field with cows in it safely....

I walk in the country a lot (pre COVID) and am scared of cows, or more specifically bullocks which are basically teenagers. If they are at the other end of the field then I'd go for it - don't think their eyesight is great - while checking for easy places to climb the hedge if necessary, but wouldn't walk through them. Techniques friends use if approached, look big and confident, wave your arms in the air and sound confident but reassuring.

BUT I would assume cattle on NT footpaths or the coast path are placid, see walkers are the time, and aren't interested. Walk through them with no issues.

Wild ponies that idiots feed, OTOH ...

*all the time, sorry

Aww most cows are lush, OP. I’m hoping to have a few as pets when I’ve finished uni.

I’ve worked with cows for brief periods of time and I’d say just walk through confidently, I’m more experienced with dairy cows but I’ve had a few instances where they’ve all been standing near the style and I couldn’t get out when on walks.

I’m not sure if this is the correct thing but I spoke to them as if I was on the farm I worked at and said “come on girls” confidently and tapped any on the rump that didn’t move first time and they all moved on. I understand you probably don’t want to get too close if you’re not confident though. If you do, for any reason, need to pass behind a cow make sure you’re at least 6ft away or tucked in touching the cow (probably wouldn’t recommend for you) as this is the kick zone.

If cows come towards you, they’re usually curious, I usually offer a hand to them and they usually decide they’re not brave enough but a few years ago when I was completing DofE walk at school the whole herd started to scramble after us. The others in my group started to run but I told them to stand still and make themselves big (arms and legs wide) and they buggered off.

Beef cattle are obviously different as they have calves so, as others said, don’t get between a cow and calf and just generally walk with purpose.

I understand if you’re nervous though you may be better to find alternative routes. My boyfriend is always unsure of cows so allows me to lead the way but alone I think he’d skip the field.

Yes, people are trampled by cows and you do need to be careful as not all cows are the same due to them being unpredictable animals, but people also die in car crashes etc and I’m much more scared getting into a car and often have nightmares and get panicky. I think we all have something that worries us and it’s just a case of being sensible.

We live rurally. We know which cows are lively and might charge. We avoid those as we’ve usually got a dog with us. If we know it’s a placid herd we’re fine and happy for them to approach.
I’d be wary of hers we didn’t know.

These are my favourite cows of all the cows I’ve encountered. They were on a very well walked hillside so were half inquisitive and half uninterested depending on the cow.

I managed to get these gorgeous pictures, without getting too close, (the zoom feature is a blessing) that I’ll treasure forever.

Farmers are not fans of folk walking through their herds. Wether you 'have a right to' or not, why not just respect the farmer and keep out of fields with cows in. Its common sense and keeps you safe. We are all trying to make the best of things currently. But putting yourself in a field of cows is not appropriate. Find somewhere else to walk.

My mum was a teacher in an inner city primary school and i always smiles when I'm reminded of the story she told me of the day they took the children to a farm. Many of the children hadn't been on a farm, or ever seen a cow in real life.

Apparently they went into a field with cows grazing - must have been early spring because there were small calves grazing with their mums and the children and calves were really interested in each other. One of the cows made an unexpected move/noise (was 20 years ago, can't remember the exact details) which alarmed some of the children, who started backing away down the field. The calves seemed to think this was an amazing new game and started chasing the children, causing all of the children to leg it, and making the game a lot more fun, till all the children were being chased by a herd of calves. The calves were having a wonderful time, the children not so much. The school staff were all bricking themselves that the mum cows would get involved and cause a fatality.

Because if it's a right of way, floater it may be a footpath that people need to walk to get somewhere?

You can't always avoid cattle on paths (and sometimes farmers who want to keep people away for whatever reason, are known for putting flighty herds of young stock on footpaths deliberately).

@wehaveafloater people should be careful and sensible, obviously, but a right of way is exactly what it says.

Farmers are not fans of folk walking through their herds. Wether you 'have a right to' or not, why not just respect the farmer and keep out of fields with cows in. Its common sense and keeps you safe.
Here's an idea. Why doesn't the farmer respect the legal right of way (no need for inverted comma ) which has been around a lot longer than s/he has.

Well I knew there'd be those who would feel their rights are above everyone else's, so I'm not disappointed. Enjoy your walks and I do hope you never get into strife as I wouldn't wish a crush injury or worse on anyone.

Love a cow. These half-pints are behind a fence but always come to say hi.

I was absolutely fine with cows until we got charged off the walking path into marsh land on a NT walking route. It was coming up to dusk and they were all walking an masse across the path to an upper field with their calves (which was such an amazing sight) so we stopped to give them space (about 100m) and then another set of cows came up behind us, shortly loudly and seemed annoyed by us. We walked very slowly, hoping that the first set would be off the path, but although there was at least 50m between us the last one in the heard turned and charged and others followed. We had to run into marshland, which had deep puddles and it was getting dark by this stage. The DC were terrified as the group that charged didn't move on, they seemed to be waiting for us. I had no phone reception and was really worried that when it got dark that we couldn't see where we were going. Never again.

My one and only time of hitch hiking in Wales was caused by this. Chased by cows ended up in completely the wrong village, from which there was no bus.

@paininthepoinsettia, I would never enter a field of cows with their calves at dusk, when they can go mildly berserk anyway, let alone when there are calves about.

Another country girl here saying avoid if you can. I would never willingly go into a field with cows - they are huge and unpredictable.

Talking about going mildly berserk at dusk, reminds me of what I was told by a dairy farmer when I moved to the UK and lived in rural Glos.
He said that when his cows were let out into the fields after a winter locked in in their barns, they dance? Never forgot that - or the mental image it created

I have been terrified whilst walking through a field with cows and older calves. The calves were curious and skittish and seemed to want to play...which was terrifying to me as they kept leaping towards me. I waited ages and tried to shoo them away, they meant no harm but they are seriously heavy animals, I didnt fancy getting jostled like they were with each other.

I’m a farmer’s daughter, brought up on a livestock farm.

I live rurally now and would not walk through a field with cattle in it. They are large, unpredictable animals which spook easily and can cause serious injuries and kill people.

Another country dweller here. We've just had young bullocks turned out into a field on one of our regular walks, and the whole villages understands it is a no-go right now (as it is every year). They are really skittish and no one would risk it.

I think some people have missed that these are cattle the NT and local heath have placed on the land, so lots and lots of peopple walking daily, not a farmer's field! They roam where they want to within it, not behind a fence that Im choosing to jump over 🙄. It isnt like there is another route when the roam all over.

Ive googled the NT policy and it seems its good for the land, but it doesnt look like theres any dangerous news stories about them! Maybe they are more placid and different to farmed cows?

These really are normal places for walks locally.

I might avoid dusk though.

Real mixed response from this thread!

I live in a very rural area and always avoid fields with cows in these days as I'm now too fat to run away from them if they do decide to give chase! I've been chased by enough cows over the years to not want to repeat the experience when I've got my small children with me. Most of the times I've been chased I've had dogs with me, but not every time.

Animals are unpredictable so you're probably not going to get the answer you want. The best is 'you'll probably be okay'.

There's a guy walks his dog off lead everywhere. He believes his dog is 100% obedient and predictable. Doesn't stop the dog running across the street in front of cars every time it sees my dad!

It is what it is.

Walk elsewhere. A mate’s friend was trampled and needed a double hip replacement cos they quashed her pelvis flat.

I was trampled by one horse some years back. There are some extremely graphic pictures in Sporners corner of the leg, which was burst open like a sausage and the skin graft. Took 3 months to heal, got a very large chunk of leg missing and my patella moves round nicely.

NEVER get between a cow and her calf.