Recently a farmer emailed our group and we felt that he had some useful discussion points that we could empathise with and wanted to share some of his thoughts. Obviously we don’t agree with all of the points but here starts the dialogue. We have always been up for collaboration in our quest to keep people safe.
The following words in italics are the farmers words…….
“I read the article in the Daily Mail on Thursday and there lies your problem!!!! In that sensational reporting makes the countryside sound like a no-go zone!!!!
What you need to clearly understand Cows are absolutely no different to us humans they protect their young and that’s completely understandable. Dogs are the main threat as many are not used to livestock and sadly many dog owners have no idea on what to do when in the same field as livestock and that includes sheep. Also you must remember you’re on their patch, try getting close to a seagull’s nest this spring and you will understand what I mean.
I walked the whole South West Coastal Path recently and that’s 630 miles mainly in open fields with often all types of livestock with absolutely no issues. Yes I understand livestock I hear you say and your correct I do but the Cows don’t know that! Also I didn’t have a dog. I’m NOT saying dogs should not be welcomed into the countryside but owners need to understand how Cows think.
I have read your 3 aims,
1. Cattle to be separated from walkers – Not a chance and completely unrealistic. Farmers struggle to afford the maintenance of their farms thanks to the pittance they receive from those Greedy Supermarkets.
Also you seem to think electric fence is the answer again not a chance the cost would be huge and why should we have to do this on our land?
Footpath waking does not earn us any income it damages our fields and fences through unresponsible people.
2. Compulsory Insurance for all farmers who keep livestock – I expect a lot of livestock farmers are insured but remember you are entering a field on your choice we aren’t inviting you!!
3. A central database to report all attacks – Well you website probably achieves that. Don’t think the Government will help as they can’t even sort the illegal immigrants out can they?
Please get good advice from people who actually understand cattle and that’s definitely NOT DEFRA bless them, not a clue.
Farmers are actually really nice people and can offer great advice so talk to them and respect their land and animals. It’s very tough farming and it’s getting tougher trust me we really don’t need all this grief we seem to get as it really does not help us want to welcome the public onto our land – and remember it’s your choice not your right so try respecting our lovely countryside. Learn the country code and pick up after your dog and for goodness sake don’t leave your Poo Bag hanging on our hedges!!!!!!!!!!”
We think the following points:
- Thank you for contacting us and we would value any advice that farmers could give us and other walkers. Perhaps provide us with a big list of dos and don’ts???? What to do ifs?????
- Only 50% of the over 835 reports of cattle attacks on our database involved dogs so they are NOT the only risk here, however, we do acknowledge that they COULD upset cattle.
- We totally empathise with famers’ financial constraints and understand that fencing off/ moving cows and calves/ using electric fencing is expensive, and would welcome any ideas of compromise because most of our footpaths are public rights of way and landowners have a legal duty of care to minimise any risk to people passing through them. HSE states that they should take all reasonably practical safety measures to protect the public.
- Farmers especially not the big landowners have a tough time of it and this is not made easier for them by irresponsible walkers who allow dogs to worry their animals and their foolishness to destroy their land but we all need to work together to keep ourselves safe.
- Not all farmers have insurance and what will happen if their cows cause an accident – the person who is harmed will have no financial assistance so we stand by the insurance argument, however, the general public could take out their own insurance which is relatively inexpensive to protect themselves in addition.
Cattle Safety 
The HSE primary role is to enforce the law, the farmers unions are the establishment to influence their members in their roles as farmers. Public should understand the basics of the countryside code.
I think as a small cattle farmer it’s useful to display a sign for cows with calves and that it means to walkers find another route please. Where I farm 7 footpaths cross 60 acres, it’s dam hard to manage on your own, my neighbour has 5 paths lead to his farm yard. Rural crime is big!
Cows are demanding animals, very verbal when they’re not happy mostly they want to move or drink water, the latter months of the year is challenging because the grass slows up and we want to delay housing due to costs of feed and bedding, however that means operations to open fields up and exposure of paths to cattle, there’s no solution to that other than sell up to a more wealthy landowner like a neighbour who’s blocked a footpath and getting away with it.
Every farmer has public liability to cover civil claims for compensation, we are not allowed by law to farm without insurance. The only insurance we don’t have is for breaking the law because you can’t insure a crime.
The national herd is diminishing, and footfall in the countryside has increased with public wanting to stay healthy, incidents will only get worse because the current rights of way law does not say avoid fields with cows.
My cattle understand me, they know what a stick is. I personally would never walk into a neighbour’s field with cattle no way!
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For everyone walker injured/killed by cattle I think there are 2 farm workers. It is in everyone’s best interests to take this seriously.
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I fully appreciate it is neither my land nor my right to walk on it.
I also know the stresses of trying to make a living from farming today, so I am very sympathetic to the farmers position.
I also don’t have a dog and yet have been severely frightened by cows 3 times in as many years, but never before that. I feel this is a new problem.
I think one of the most effective , and not costly, measure would be simply to put the name and phone number of the person responsible for the cattle and field on all gates and stiles.
If the number for the Health and Safety office could be included, that would also help to get a true measure of the scale of the problem.
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Name and telephone number of the farmer is a great idea. Of course, if there is a public footpath across the field, you have every right to walk the footpath.
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Really good idea about the contact details on the fence/gate if there are any problems. 👍
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I think its a really good idea to engage with farmers. I also agree that there are a number of idiotic walkers who do not adhere to the country side code.
however, there are quite often no signs about cows in a field or there are signs where there aren’t any cows in a field. Though I expect, from a farmers point of view, signs are expensive, especially of they are removed vandalised by walkers.
There really does need to be a joint venture going forward! The government needs to teach the countryside code and all about farming in schools. This would help from the beginning. They should create informative videos on TV, social media. Farmers do work hard and I inderstand their frustrations.
On the other hand, there needs to be a collaborative approach between groups like this and farmers so ther is an understanding from both sides. I will always choose not to walk through a field of cows though sometimes we have no idea that they are there. Especially on open access land. So frustrating.
Until we collaborate, nothing will change. I’m so glad this group exists as its our voice and you do a great job. Would really love to be involved in any collaboration s going forward if I could help.
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