Local teacher trampled to death by cows

badlywornroy

badlywornroy

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Walkers and especially dog walkers should all be aware of the potential dangers when in close proximity to this 'sometime' placid beast the cow ?

A reminder for all of us (very close to home for me) that I will share here, especially now when maternal cows with calves are the biggest threat.

Trampled to death by cows.
 
Far more deaths attributable to cows than bulls I believe. They’re so curious too and will unnervingly all follow you as you walk across a field.

When I was a youngster growing up in the countryside I was never afraid of them, I’m very wary now though. :wideyed:
 
I love cows.. but I'm also terrified of them! Was fine until me and the missus we're walking across a field with about 20 young bulls last year who were a distance away, about 3/4 of the way across they had come over to us quite quickly and had a sort of stand off...I assume they we're just being nosey and wanting to play but I didn't fancy it.
 
I read a report that said on average 1 to 2 members of the public and 5 farmers/farmworkers were killed each year by cattle. To keep this in
perspective I also read where on average 3 people a year were killed by lightning.
 
i give cows a wide bearth especially the ones in my local co-op if they swing wide they will have you.
 
I'm not afraid of walking in a field with cows, MoH and Mil mind you had a nasty experience where they were charged by a group of young bullocks and only just managed to get out of the field in time, but that was solely due to the dogs they were walking. I personally will never enter a field with a dog if there are cows present.
 
I don't dispute that they can be dangerous, but maybe coming from a dairy farming family I have a different feeling and way with them, I don't know. I have herded a group of about 10 cows with a bull together out of one field through a gate to another on one occasion, without any issues but with healthy respect and suitable distance and enlarging of myself with wide arms and appropriate noises. I don't know, it seemed to work. I would always treat with caution but confidence. It's the same with horses, they are dangerous but vulnerable animals, so require confident handling with knowledge of when things can start to go wrong.
 
Lindsay56 said:
I don't dispute that they can be dangerous, but maybe coming from a dairy farming family I have a different feeling and way with them, I don't know. I have herded a group of about 10 cows with a bull together out of one field through a gate to another on one occasion, without any issues but with healthy respect and suitable distance and enlarging of myself with wide arms and appropriate noises. I don't know, it seemed to work. I would always treat with caution but confidence. It's the same with horses, they are dangerous but vulnerable animals, so require confident handling with knowledge of when things can start to go wrong.
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“ I would always treat with caution but confidence “
Lindsay, the unpredictabilty of the animals is the ‘ scary ‘ part. When you see how many farmers and farmworkers are killed and injured by cows and bulls ! if they cannot move through and around them without danger the public need to give them a wide berth.
 
I completely agree @badlywornroy Roy, I guess that's my point, that those who have had some involvement with big animals approach them with awareness and respect and manage their risk exposure, but the general public by and large probably don't
 
It's a really sad case - most trail runners I know have a deep respect/fear for cows.

In this case, as in I believe every other fatality, the person was walking with dogs. Advice from rambler's associations if you find yourself in this situation is to send the dog(s) away - they will run from the cows and you'll generally be safe without them.
 
reminds me of a time about 30 years ago ,while out metal detecting with a couple of mates I was in a field on one side of the road they were on a hill opposite . a herd of bullocks decided to charge them , I watched in total laughter as first the detectors and spades came flying over the hedge followed by two scratched and bleeding mates that didn't realise it was a four foot high hedge perched on top of a six foot high embankment .long drop to the road .. the trip home was done trying not to smile or crack up listening to the groans :cool:
 
All animals - and especially male ones - can be unpredictable and can be especially dangerous when people invade their territory.

There was a serious bull attack a while ago, the vet had been called because the bull had a limp. The stockman had put him into his pen ready for the vet and was going to walk him around so that the vet could assess him. But for some reason, the vet walked into his pen, and the bull reacted to this invasion. The stockman saved the vets' life by distracting the bull but was very badly injured himself. His own life was saved by his workmates, who came running when he shouted for help on his radio. The bull was shot and the vet is paralysed from the neck down.

FWIW, I agree that dogs are the cause of many of the problems. In theory, I'm all for people having the right to roam (or at least the ones who shut the gates after themselves) but untrained townie dogs are a different matter.
 
Garry Edwards said:
All animals - and especially male ones - can be unpredictable and can be especially dangerous when people invade their territory.

There was a serious bull attack a while ago, the vet had been called because the bull had a limp. The stockman had put him into his pen ready for the vet and was going to walk him around so that the vet could assess him. But for some reason, the vet walked into his pen, and the bull reacted to this invasion. The stockman saved the vets' life by distracting the bull but was very badly injured himself. His own life was saved by his workmates, who came running when he shouted for help on his radio. The bull was shot and the vet is paralysed from the neck down.

FWIW, I agree that dogs are the cause of many of the problems. In theory, I'm all for people having the right to roam (or at least the ones who shut the gates after themselves) but untrained townie dogs are a different matter.
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We often had to cut through allowed animal farm territory when out with our dog in Arran and without question on ever occurrence he would be put on a lead, especially being a Beagle. Our main reason was actually because we didn't want to distress the animals, our own safety was never really thought of to be honest, but clearly it should have been.
 
Garry Edwards said:
All animals - and especially male ones - can be unpredictable and can be especially dangerous when people invade their territory.

There was a serious bull attack a while ago, the vet had been called because the bull had a limp. The stockman had put him into his pen ready for the vet and was going to walk him around so that the vet could assess him. But for some reason, the vet walked into his pen, and the bull reacted to this invasion. The stockman saved the vets' life by distracting the bull but was very badly injured himself. His own life was saved by his workmates, who came running when he shouted for help on his radio. The bull was shot and the vet is paralysed from the neck down.

FWIW, I agree that dogs are the cause of many of the problems. In theory, I'm all for people having the right to roam (or at least the ones who shut the gates after themselves) but untrained townie dogs are a different matter.
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We have townie dogs and often walk them off leads near cattle. Never had a problem as the dogs tend to avoid cattle but I am wary of the potential problems. I had quite a bit of experience of livestock in my youth but as your example indicates, even pros are caught out. What should we do to avoid issues?
 
We, my wife and I plus my daughter and her husband were walking with 3 dogs through a field with a public footpath. We were wary because there were cows in the field. We left the ‘path’ to walk around the edge of the field keeping as much distance as possible from the cows. One cow left the herd and came towards us, it just kept coming and getting faster. Then we realised there was a young calf lying almost hidden under the hedge and we were almost on top of it. We physically ‘threw’ the dogs over a wall and somehow managed to get ourselves over the wall. I have to say elderly or less active people would probably not have got over that wall.
I have known this to happen to another person who while avoiding the cow(s) unknowingly approached a calf, fortunately they were not harmed.
I always carry a stout stick when walking and a good tip I heard many years ago. Carry an umbrella, opening an umbrella suddenly will scare a cow off, you will suddenly look a lot bigger to the cow.
,
 
Brentor said:
Thanks for the obvious answer. The places we usually use are NT properties some of which have cattle.
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Not sure what else you can do?
I read that if the cattle do start to run towards you, you should let the dogs off the lead.
 
Brentor said:
Thanks for the obvious answer. The places we usually use are NT properties some of which have cattle.
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First of all it is cows with calves that are the biggest threat. I also believe (and have read similar views) that cattle well used to walkers and especially walkers with dogs are less likely to feel threatened and will largely ignore you. I would suggest NT properties are well ‘peopled’ and hence the cattle are ‘acclimatised’ to walkers ? I consider little walked fields and remote areas to carry the greatest risk. I would add the caveat ‘ beware the unpredictability of animals’ Safe walking everyone.
 
badlywornroy said:
First of all it is cows with calves that are the biggest threat. I also believe (and have read similar views) that cattle well used to walkers and especially walkers with dogs are less likely to feel threatened and will largely ignore you. I would suggest NT properties are well ‘peopled’ and hence the cattle are ‘acclimatised’ to walkers ? I consider little walked fields and remote areas to carry the greatest risk. I would add the caveat ‘ beware the unpredictability of animals’ Safe walking everyone.
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Good answer.
 
My grandfather was a herdsman and as a very young lad often used to go with him when he rounded up the cattle for milking. When walking down to the fields to get the cattle, grandad would always show me where to go if a cow "turned". Only had to dive into a hedge once. Whilst we refer to farm animals as "domesticated" they are still basically a wild animal and will react as such. I have been put on my ar$e by a sheep, that then turned to try and butt me. No reason, it was just a bit of a mean sheep.
 
Brentor said:
We have townie dogs and often walk them off leads near cattle. Never had a problem as the dogs tend to avoid cattle but I am wary of the potential problems. I had quite a bit of experience of livestock in my youth but as your example indicates, even pros are caught out. What should we do to avoid issues?
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You mean apart from not going on my land with your dogs off lead?
Walk along the edges, don't look the cows in the eye - eye contact is a challenge - and don't walk directly towards them, another challenge.

As for the vet, he was a pro who acted as an amateur, he was past it and should have retired earlier. Everyone who knows him was sympathetic, but .
 
Sympathetic but not surprised.
 
Last year myself and the wife (she is from a farming background) went for a walk in the countryside. Over a stile we went and i noticed a large herd of cows probably 100m away, No problem I thought as the path led away from the cows. Suddenly I heard what sounded like thunder and the cows were heading towards us at a great rate of knots, I said to the wife we need to get over this barbed wire fence, I jumped, cleared a small brook only to find myself in another field of cows and caked in mud.. The wife meanwhile was just stood in the field waving her arms up and down quite calmly which stopped the cattle. I walked down the edge of the brook til I could get out in another field safe and sound.
 
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The perfect course of action, if down correctly, works with horses too, but if the person moves or does it too quickly it's likely to cause panic and make matters worse.
 
There should be a law (I do see it occasionally) that fields with public footpaths and cows with calves have a warning sign on the points of entry. The sign I have seen says something like “Cows with calves and dogs do not mix, keep your distance” A reminder of the possible dangers inherent in this mix of humans, canines and cattle. I believe it is law that fields with footpaths and a bull in the field have to have warning signs. It doesn’t make sense when many more walkers are killed/injured by cows than bulls.
 
munch said:
it was just a bit of a mean sheep.
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I once had to get between a wethered billy and a wethered ram. Those two had serious anger issues! :wideyed:
 
badlywornroy said:
There should be a law (I do see it occasionally) that fields with public footpaths and cows with calves have a warning sign on the points of entry. The sign I have seen says something like “Cows with calves and dogs do not mix, keep your distance” A reminder of the possible dangers inherent in this mix of humans, canines and cattle. I believe it is law that fields with footpaths and a bull in the field have to have warning signs. It doesn’t make sense when many more walkers are killed/injured by cows than bulls.
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The problem with that, is certainly around here (edge of the Dales) is that cattle are constantly moved from field to field. On my walk along the riverbank there is 5 fields I go though. it can vary from 3 fields full of cows to none and that is in the space of a week. Similar thing with the sheep.

This many more walkers killed by cows, care to give an actual figure for that? The use of the word many implies "a lot"
According to the HSE 22 members of the public(in the 20 years between March 2000 and March 2020) were killed by cattle (The HSE doesn't distinguish between cows and bulls)An average of just over one per year, in a population of 66.65 million it could hardly be described as many.
 
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badlywornroy said:
There should be a law (I do see it occasionally) that fields with public footpaths and cows with calves have a warning sign on the points of entry.
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That's all very well, but where does it end? Health and safety; signs for this, signs for that. Very few people ever read them - most people are too stupid to even notice that they're even there. The signs that is, not the cows.

I say let nature take it's course; it's just natural selection in action. If someone is too stupid to realise that cows are huge animals that are very heavy and can hurt you - stupidity kills, not cows.

Putting signs on cliff edges doesn't work either, even fencing them off doesn't - people still fall off them because they climb over in search of a better view.
 
Garry Edwards said:
You mean apart from not going on my land with your dogs off lead?
Walk along the edges, don't look the cows in the eye - eye contact is a challenge - and don't walk directly towards them, another challenge.

As for the vet, he was a pro who acted as an amateur, he was past it and should have retired earlier. Everyone who knows him was sympathetic, but .
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Thanks for the advice.

Just to be clear we do not trespass on private land. It is mainly NT land with public rights of way. They often have warning signs if there are calves, but for some reason not when a bull is present. I always keep the dogs on leads if there are sheep nearby.

When I used to visit my uncle’s farm many year’s ago, it was the sows we were told to avoid.
 
Brentor said:
Just to be clear we do not trespass on private land. It is mainly NT land with public rights of way. They often have warning signs if there are calves, but for some reason not when a bull is present. I always keep the dogs on leads if there are sheep nearby.
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I was always told that being with the cows calmed the bull down making them less likely to cause problems,
Crossed many fields with bulls in with cows in my younger days, and dogs running loose without any problems

Worst in my experience are the young bullocks, they always came running over but pretty much harmless
 
Used to work as a stockman and there was one bullock in particular who was a right sod! The farm I worked on supplied our local butcher and took said bullock when he was ready. They save revenge tastes good. It sure did!!! IMO, best served roasted while hot rather than cold...
 
If you’re stupid enough to be in a field of cows and you have a dog with you and the cows come over and hassle you and your dog, best let it off the lead as the cows will then follow it not you.

It’s the dog they are after not you.

However, best plan? Stay out of fields with livestock in them [emoji6]
 
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