Incident number: 870
Date of incident: 27.05.24
Site: Between Boscubben and Trendrine Farm on the footpath between Zennor and St. Ives in Cornwall
We were a group of 3 adults and 4 dogs, we noticed cows with calves in the field ahead of us, so as we approached the field, we started to put the dogs on leads.
One cow charged to the front very aggressively. We tried to circumnavigate the field, with the herd following us round being very frisky. The cattle were too aggressive so we had to give up and double back.
I am not risk averse, but to proceed would have been foolhardy. A dogless couple aborted an attempt just after we had tried, but succeeded after we had left the scene suggesting the dogs were the spark for the cow’s aggression.
We were not injured but badly frightened.
Killer Cows comment: The Health and Safety Executive strongly suggests that farmers do not put cows with calves in fields where footpaths pass through. HSE recognise the risk and English law states that farmers have a duty of care towards those who walk across their land.
This occurred in an area where there are many walkers, surely there should be clear signage to an alternative cattle-free route if the farmer cannot manage to fence off the footpath.
Cattle Safety 