As of July 2024, we have collected 889 cattle incidents in England and Wales, reported to us over the past 7 years, using our self-reporting online form. You can read the full 2024 Data Report here: Cumulative Data Report, 2024
Headline Figures
889 cattle incidents in England and Wales have been reported to us, and these are likely to represent only the tip of the iceberg.
Most of the cases involved cows without bulls, and in only 30% of cases were calves visible in the field.
Contrary to popular belief, less than half the reports involved a dog, and most dogs (90%) were on a lead at the time of the incident.
Most of the incidents involved either single walkers (41%), or walkers walking as a couple (42%).
23% resulted in minor injuries, and another 10% in more serious injuries.
Nearly a fifth required some sort of medical assessment or intervention.
20 breeds of cattle were mentioned, including breeds considered ‘safe’
Only 1 in 8 people reported seeing warning signs.
Less than half of victims reported the incident to an authority, and 89% said no investigation was taking place. This makes us likely to be the holder of the largest database on cattle incidents in the UK.
A big THANK YOU to our team of unpaid volunteers who man this site, and a big THANK YOU to all the victims and families who took the time to fill in our reporting tool.
Cattle Safety 
Quite correctly you are focused on killer cows but there is an important side issue to consider
Why is there so much barbed wire in the countryside? It makes escape from a killer cow field so much harder
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Very good point. My understanding is that barbed wire deters cattle from leaning on fencing and bringing it down with their weight. But I’m not sure if this is a genuine reason for using it, or just an excuse.
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