Incident number: 760
Response number: 289,034,458
31st May 2023
Location: Brown Knowl Cheshire
Two of us were walking on a public right of way with no dogs. When getting within 50 metres of a bullock which was in a herd of other bullocks, it started to growl (it really sounded like a lion!) It lowered its head and got closer (we were luckily on the other side of the gate) and started to scrape its hoof along the floor. There was no way I would enter this footpath with this bullock displaying this aggressive behaviour. The rest of the bullocks look confused by this one’s behaviour. Unfortunately if you entered the field at the other end via the footpath you would find this bullock and would have no way of escaping it without injury via a barbed wire fence.
Slothgirl says “Farmers being held accountable for dangerous livestock and being separated from footpaths. Cows are large animals and should not be in places with footpaths or at least separated by an electric fence.”
Incident number: 765
Response number: 289,134,527
Date: 27/8/2023
Timberhill Farm & Farmers Farm, Dymock, Gloucestershire
Two of us were walking with our dog on a lead on the Daffodil Way. We altered our route when we saw a group of cows in the corner of the field where the footpath was headed. We diverted along a hedge of neighbouring field to bring us out onto a track which was alongside these cows. Whilst we walked along this track, wire fence between us and the cows, the cows were bucking and highly charged, careering at the fence towards us. Had we been in the field with them where the right of way was we both feel we would have been in a highly dangerous position.
Incident number: 775
Response number: 289,959,328
5th September 2023
Public footpath heading east from Berry Wood, Ashurstwood towards former Stoke Brunswick School Ashurstwood, West Sussex
Two of us were walking with our dog on the lead. We were half way across the field and I had noticed approximately 20 cattle (I think they were red poll) approximately 100 yards away. Whilst still walking they began to charge towards us – as the style was circa 50 yards away we decided to run – with dog still on lead and just got there before the cattle – This was extremely frightening. I had experienced this type of cattle charging at another close by location before – this time I was behind a fence – but knew they were not going to stop hence ran to the style
Cattle Safety 