Putting a bull in a feild with a public footpath isnt very sportsperson like

[DyslexicScientist]

I spend time planning a circular route so that my walks are interesting. 90% of the way through there is a feild with a bull, there is a sign up saying "caution bull in field", well thanks!

I'm going to try to do it but it is annoying. Its bad enough a field of cows who start to run towards you, that scares me shirtless.

If you don't hear from me again

Juan - yes cows can and do "attack" - some can be very aggressively protective of their calves and will try to get you on the ground and drive their head into your chest. this is why I won't walk through a field with cows and calves - most cows are quite docile, but you never know.
Even if it's a footpath, I would either climb into a different field or skirt round them as much as possible and be very much aware of your "exit" points (ie which way to run and what you could climb up or jump over)

I'm speaking as a farmers daughter here (farming sheep and cows) - we have had a friend badly injured on my uncles farm by a cow protecting her calf, he was the local farrier at the time so he was "country aware" just got himself in the wrong field at the wrong time.

OP - much sympathy but please do consider cows to be just as potentially dangerous as Bulls. Bulls are pretty heavy so to get them worked up enough to go for you you'd have to be pretty unlucky, takes a lot of their energy to run

Well ive always heard young male cattle referred to as bullocks, older than calves but not yet fully grown. And I'm fairly sure these include non castrated ones.

I once walked with DD1 in a front carrier, and DH, through a field with cows in. There were standing stones in the field, and whole herd followed us from one stone to another. It was unnerving to say the least, and needless to say we didn't spend long there before making a careful exit.

cows are very curious. they will investigate and oogle something they don't know. but usually keep their distance.

Young bullocks can trample you so whothefuckissimon your farmer friend was pretty irresponsible - they may not intentionally attack, but they are pretty heavy lively animals running around in a group so again not something to take lightly.

Basically if it's bigger and heavier than you - treat it with respect! Equally this does also go for sheep - not know for their attacking qualities, but don't get in their way.

Oh, yes; I don't doubt you. it just freaked us townies out rather!

I wouldn't assume the only people chased or hurt by cows or bulls are sill 'townie' walkers with loose dogs - my mum is 70 and has been a walker since a child - she doesn't own a dog - she does own a map with public footpaths on it - she has been chased, charged and hurt escaping cows - and attacked by farm dogs

the country side is everyone's

I've always called young male cattle, the ones that the dairy herd gave birth to which turned out to be boys so get fattened up a bit before going to become burgers and shoe leather, stirks.

Cows are naturally curious animals. If you lie down in a field they'll come over to sniff you - not recommending that you do it though

Any herd animal can be spooked by sudden noise/movement/something they perceive to be a predator so it's always best to be on your guard when walking through fields.

Wow. People do comment on things they obviously don't know much about with an apparent degree of authority.

Beef bulls are raised in a herd with cattle and they know they are cattle so only try and assert themselves as rivals against other bulls. Dairy bulls are bottle fed and raised by humans so they have imprinted on humans the way beef bulls have on cattle and thus will challenge humans in the same way.

Personally I wouldn't chance it. If it was in a field with cows it would probably be a beef bull. Dairy cows are almost universally artificially inseminated and it's unusual for them to be kept with cows these days. If I knew for certain it was a beef bull and I felt I had to I might chance it, but would stay close to the edge of the field and make sure I never came between a bull and a cow which they can see as a challenge.

My uncle in law bred pedigree cattle and was killed by a bull escaped from a neighbouring farm. So I am cautious.

I have to say though, I doubt a farmer genuinely would put a dangerous bull in a field with a right of way. It would affect their insurance and if anything happened they would be liable so I can't see them doing it. I think it's more likely they've had problems with walkers and are trying to discourage them.

My GOD those Limousin bulls a PP mentioned are HUGE

Interesting to know that it is illegal to put a bull in a field with a footpath. It is definitely happening round here: - a local slightly deranged land owner who is known for her hatred of walkers has a currently bull in a field which is part of a circular walk.

I won't walk through fields of cows after being charged by cows when riding on a bridle path that went through a field containing a herd of cows. They were really aggressive and scary.

Apparently cows are Britain 's most dangerous large animal -www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1630047.ece

Equally this does also go for sheep - not know for their attacking qualities, but don't get in their way.

Some time ago, DS and I took went on holiday wth our ponies. At one overnight stop, the ponies were turned out with a flock of sheep - neither ponies or sheep were impressed. It was fascinating to watch how "aggressive" the sheep were towards the ponies and they managed to drive the ponies away from water trough which they then spent the night guarding.

Well I have to say this was quite amusing to read as a farmers wife

To clarify, most bulls are allowed to be in fields with a footpath but not dairy bulls (mainly Holstein Friesian) as they are much more unpredictable and testosterone charged. They are very dangerous, whereas your average calm beef bull is usually fine.

Try to avoid cattle/bulls if you can by going around them not between them, if they run over they are generally curious and (as long as not with calfs) can be shooed away quite easily! Your dog will easily outrun them if they need to.

You can tell if a bull is angry but generally they have to have something really wind them up before they can be bothered to charge. HTH

Oh and also ewes will not harm you! Shoo them away if they come close, which is rare. Tups should be treated with the same respect as a bull but won't go out of their way to attack! Only if there's a real reason!

Not helpful, but take some bagpipes with you next time. Cows seem to love the sound of the bloody things and it soothes them.

Thanks to those of you with interesting on topic details to add.

I do think it is allowed, as people go to the Hassel of printing signs to go up to warn about the bull. But that begs the question if it is harmless why do they go to the effort of warning people about it?

I do think its more about people trying to block public footpaths, it seems to happen a lot around here. I guess its annoying having a footpath past your house or through your land, but im sure the price they pay for the land reflects this.

So did you walk across the field or not?

I need to know where 'Hassel' is. Are there lots of bulls there?

Ooh thoughtful you have not met the mean ewes my uncle has in West Cumbria - hardened old bags have given a younger me a butt when I've been dawdling in the way trying to steer them out of a pen.

Whothefuckissimon I am shocked at how irresponsible your boss was. The walkers were wankers to allow their dog to worry sheep but he outdid them on the idiocy stakes.

Once I was walking a bridleŵay to check it was accessible to horses, the farmer had just seen us walk into the field. Our dogs were on leads and there was a herd of cows at the very far end of the field. DH said they looked like bullocks and I said don't be stupid who would put bullocks in a bridleway field? We were half way across the field when the, clearly, bullocks charged us. We had a lot of trouble getting out safely, they surrounded us taking it in turns to charge at us and weren't in the least bit intimidated by our shouting and hand waving. We later found out the farmer was a wanker who did everything he could to put people off using the rights of way over his land.

Depending on the breed of bull it could be illegal.

Oh yes chocolate they can be quite different when you are actually doing something with them! Some seem to go out of their way to be awkward!

But generally speaking, ones grazing in a field are fine.