Our footpaths should be safe, particularly in an area promoted as a place for recreational walking.
Recently we published Abigail’s story, where she describes being pushed from cow to cow before being knocked to the ground. (You can read her account of the cattle attack here.)
Since posting the story, Abigail has sent us photos of her injuries. Her leg was badly bruised and required stitching and repeat dressings.
They went for my dog, and then surrounded me.
On the 23rd July 2019, I was walking with my dog on a public footpath along the western shore of Coniston, in the Lake District. We encountered a group of cows on the footpath. They went for my dog, and then surrounded me, pushing me from cow to cow. Continue reading “Abigail’s story: pushed from cow to cow”
I lifted my legs up and started kicking the attacking cows in the face
On the 8th September, this year, I was walking on a public footpath near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. I was on my own with my dog on a lead.
I saw a group of cows were in the field I was about to enter. They were heifers and brown in colour. I normally have no problem dealing with cows, so I entered and began to walk across the field. Continue reading “Andy’s story: knocked down on a walk”
I was knocked to the ground, and repeatedly kicked and head butted
On the 11th August this year, I was walking with my dog on a public right of way, near Shipton under Wychwood, Oxfordshire.
I noticed the cows in the distance, and so I called my dog to my side, put her on a short lead and made her walk to heel. She is a Labrador and is used to being walked around livestock. Continue reading “Lucy’s story: Butted and trampled”
Maybe I should just pack wire cutters?
I was on a public footpath in Anglesey with a companion, and we were headed downhill east from Bod Feddau (shown on 1:25000 OS explorer Anglesey East) through a field at SH593797. We saw some bullocks in the field, and we took a low key detour to avoid the field they were in. We had no dog with us.
There was a connecting gate we hadn’t noticed. The bullocks caught sight of the pair of us and came at us at a gallop. We climbed over a couple of barbed wire fences to avoid them, getting our clothes ripped in the process.
Getting very fed up with similar incidents on Anglesey. Many farmers seem to be obstructing the footpaths with problem cattle. There were approx 25 bulls in this incident and they looked to be at least 10 months old, and possibly Limousin; which seem to be common locally. Getting to the point when I’ll just pack wire cutters to make escape easier and safer.
I’ve reported it to the council but have had no reply.
To my left – field of angry cows. To my right – big metal fence.
On Saturday 13th July, I went on a day trip to Arundel on my own. It was my day off from the summer school I am teaching at and so I welcomed the chance to get out and explore the local area. Continue reading “Steven’s Story: a terrifying encounter”
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.
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Cattle Safety 