We ended up retracing our steps and going through private property to find a road.
On the 3rd July, this year, I was walking with a friend along the South West Coast Path. We had my dog on a lead, and we were on an inland section between Abbotsbury and Chickerell, near Clayhanger Farm. Continue reading “Janet’s walk along the South West Coast Path spoiled by ‘inquisitive’ cattle”
A tragic example of how even an experienced farmer can come to grief.
We were very sad to learn of yet another death caused by cattle.
According to news reports, David Thomlinson (73) was working on his farm in Cumbria, when he was tragically killed in a ‘farm accident’ on the 8th June. The incident is still being investigated, but it appears the farmer was handling a young calf and was attacked by the calf’s mother.
David was famous as a livestock auctioneer, and was also a very experienced cattle farmer. Although Limousin cattle have a reputation for being rather aggressive, it was a breed he was very familiar with. In fact, David had bred pedigree Limousin cattle on his farm for the past forty years. In addition, he was a former Chairman of the North West Limousin Cattle Breeders Association and had been President of the British Limousin Cattle Society.
His tragic death is an example of how even the most experienced of farmers can come to grief when handling cattle.
We offer our sincere condolences to his family and his colleagues.
I was headbutted, trampled, and dragged along the ground.
On the 28th February, 2019, I was walking alone with my dog on a lead, along footpath number three below Tutbury Castle , Staffordshire. In the field was a herd of cattle. Initially, I didn’t notice any bulls or calves, but later I realised there were at least two bulls in the field, along with cows, heifers, and bullocks. There were calves present too. They were a mix of breeds, Aberdeen Angus, Charolais and Friesian. Continue reading “Jude’s story: butted and trampled”
The cow became more and more threatening and aggressive.
In May 2019, I was walking with my daughter along a footpath near Coalburns, Gateshead.
There was a group of cows and calves in the field, along with some bullocks. I’m experienced at walking among cattle and normally OK. This time, one or two younger bulls were inquisitive but soon lost interest. Then an older cow started to follow us.
I did have my two labradors with us, which I kept on a very short lead at all times, as I was conscious of younger calves in the field. The calves were quite a distance from us. The cow following us didn’t appear to have a calf with her.
The cow became more and more threatening and aggressive. I had to shout and raise my voice a few times to make her back off, but she continued to follow us, even though we were now on the far side of the herd and heading out of the field.
The cow continued to follow us, and then started running towards us, bucking its back legs in the air as it turned around us. Quite scary! I even resorted to picking up an old fence post that I thought I might need to fend her off. My daughter was very scared.
Luckily we weren’t injured, and the dog was unharmed, but we were badly scared.
Photo by Luca Basili on Unsplash
Injured by cattle? You don’t have to blame the farmer to win compensation.
Richard Brooks is a solicitor with considerable experience in animal-related claims. In this article, he discusses how the law applies to victims who have been injured by cattle ,and explains how you don’t necessarily have to prove the cattle owner was at fault. Continue reading “The law, cattle injuries, and no-fault compensation.”
If you have been scared or injured by cattle while walking in the countryside of England or Wales, you are NOT alone. Look around the site and read other people’s stories, and feel free to contact us with your own story.
REPORT your story to us.
The dog was very badly bruised and lucky to be alive.
On the 9th of June, a group of four of us were walking along a footpath from Rockford Common car park (Ringwood, Hampshire). The path runs parallel to the road, and we were heading towards Linwood. We had a dog on a lead.
We spotted a group of brown cows and waited for them to cross the path. We the proceeded to go down the path. Continue reading “Dog trampled and walkers injured”
Irish farmer, Dominic Leonard, suffered serious head injuries.
When Irish farmer, Dominic Leonard, was crushed by one of his cows, he suffered serious head injuries. In a video he describes the attack, the aftermath of his injuries, and the effect it had on him and his family. Continue reading “A cautionary tale from Ireland”
There is often a bad’un in a herd and she is a catalyst for the others.
Cindy recently told us her story following a cattle attack: Surrounded and trampled by cows. She offers some further thoughts and suggestions below.
A friend sent me the link to your site and I submitted my story as a way of ‘letting off steam’ as I felt aggrieved, and I am very happy that my story is used on your site.
I have been appalled to discover the number of attacks that have occurred over the years. I was utterly amazed at the number of cow attacks (as opposed to bulls who actually carry the stigma) once I started googling the subject, and quite a few people I have spoken to have been able to relate experiences of ‘close shaves’. Continue reading “Suggestions to improve footpath safety”
I ended up on the ground, being trampled under the hooves of 10 or 15 cows.
On the 30th September this year, I was walking on a public footpath in Cornwall, on a circular route from Millook, near Bude, through Trebarfoote Farm, which is where the incident happened. Continue reading “Surrounded and trampled by cows”
One particular cow made straight for us.
This September, the two of us were walking on a footpath in the Derbyshire Dales near Throwley Hall, with our dog on a lead.
There were some cows in the field. They were light brown and tan coloured, some a rust colour – possibly Guernsey, although I’m not sure. We are used to livestock and were giving the cows a wide berth so as not to split the herd.
One particular cow made straight for us and came towards our dog, calling very loudly. The rest of the herd began to move towards us too.
My partner shouted at the ‘main’ cow and waved his hands. It turned away momentarily, before turning back and suddenly rushing at my partner. He dropped our dog’s lead and the dog ran off, pursued by the herd.
These cattle were extremely agitated and even after retrieving our dog and getting out of the field, they pursued us to the gate.
I’ve reported the incident to the local authority but, as far as I’m aware, they’re not investigating it further.
Nearly forced to turn back.
John’s story is a reminder that encounters with cattle can be frightening, particularly when unexpected, and can spoil our enjoyment of the countryside.
In September of this year, I was walking with my wife along the Isle of Wight Coast Path. We were about a mile west of Bouldnor Copse on the north coast of the island, and there was a diversion on the coast path.
Unfortunately, along the diversion were cattle, and they were protecting a calf.
We were badly frightened and nearly forced to turn back, but a young man was working with a tractor nearby, and he came over and kept the cows away while we went though the field.
Cattle Safety 