Stories – Page 19 – Cattle Safety

Local lady from Meifod Powys “Cows are quite savage at this time of year!!!!”

Incident number: 917

Response ID: 305,239,967

Date: 25.07.2024

Location: Powys, Meifod

Bethany’s story

“My husband and I entered the field with no dog, following the public footpath. The cows and calves were some distance away and did not appear to take notice of us at first. We were heading toward a gate leading back out of the field and when we were about halfway there the cows started to approach, slowly at first. I turned and raised my arms and shouted and this seemed to slow them down. We kept walking at normal pace. Suddenly we could see the whole herd picking up speed and coming straight for us. We started running toward the gate and somehow made it through just in time, as moments later the first of the herd arrived and were kicking up quite a row, loud enough to bring someone out of a nearby house to see what was going on. We were quite shaken and had to sit down on the verge. The lady who came out hadn’t seen what happened but kindly advised us not go in that field as the cows are quite ‘savage’ at this time of year. Too bad she wasn’t there to tell us that at the first gate.

A sign would’ve been helpful, as if we had realised the danger we would’ve taken an alternative route (although this would’ve involved walking down a narrow lane with blind bends) I think we were extremely lucky to not be injured, or worse.”

Birchgrove Swansea: A warning to other ramblers and horse riders to use caution when using this bridleway

Incident number: 917

Response ID:

Date: 25/7/2024

Location: SA79EA (Swansea, Birchgrove)

Steve said he was walking on a public footpath in the above postcode along a narrow lane. He was forced to walk directly through a group of cows and was badly frightened. “The cows and calves are loose in a narrow lane fenced on both sides . It is not possible to pass without walking through the herd . The animals are spooked and some will run in any direction trying to escape”

“The animals should be contained in a fenced and gated field and not be allowed to roam in a narrow lane It is much easier to avoid any contact with them in a larger area”

Janet’s story: Hospitalised for 10 days

Incident number: 915

Response ID: 305,149,576

Date: 27.07.21

Location: Twixt Hutton le Hole and Appleton le Moors, North Yorkshire

This is a historic event but needs telling to warn others of the dangers involved with cows.

Janet had always loved cows and had done this walk on numerous occasions with her husband and her dogs. They were on a public footpath and saw the cows approaching and realising they were in danger, they released the dogs. One of the dogs was so traumatised that it was only found the morning after. Janet’s husband John was headbutted by one of the cattle and was thrown almost 1.5 metres into the air. They then came for Janet. She said “Shoo, shoo, shoo” which made them back off a little, but then one came and knocked her over. Fortunately she was spotted and helped over a fence by off duty firefighter who called an ambulance. Both Janet and John had multiple injuries including fractured ribs and a punctured lung and were both in James Cook Hospital for 10 days. The Police and HSE have both been involved and legal case has been actioned against the farmer.

“Overall it was deeply stressful, we are lucky to be alive!”

I ran for my life!

Incident number: 913

Response ID: 305,066,633

Date: 22.07.24

Location: Chailey Commons

Lizi’s story

I was walking on my own with my dog on a lead along a public right of way. Cows began charging towards me (and dog, quietly on lead) from an adjoining field. I moved slowly towards the hedge hoping they’d come through and pass, but they continued to charge towards me. The bull came round the corner and charged at me with horns down. I had to scare it away. All other cows came round and surrounded me, staring at me. I managed to get out of the field through the gap they entered, but they then proceeded to head towards a different gap back towards my direction, whilst all still staring straight at me.

Fortunately Lizi and her dog were unharmed but obviously badly scared.

“I have never been so frightened in my life, and this has put me off walking alone.”

Incident number: 909

Response ID: 304,951,617

Date: 17.07.24

Location: On Welsh Coast Path midway between St Brides and Rumney Great Wharf, Near Cardiff.

Elaine’s Story

“I was walking along the ridge, on a PROW, with the sea wall on my left and the ditch to my right when a large herd of cows were walking towards me. I very quietly walked past most of them as I had nowhere to move to. Cows were also in the ditch and on the slope. However, one cow started to charge at me and I had nowhere to go. Scared for my life I just stood frozen and shouted “No” as loud as I could several times. Eventually it turned away. This happened twice with this herd. Further on, near to where the path turns right towards Cardiff another herd exited the field they were in and came up onto the path! Again, one cow started to charge at me and I repeated the shouting and I was left staring into the eyes of a cow who wouldn’t move. Fortunately, I saw a worker in a field in a civil and I waved to him and shouted and to his credit he ran across the field and up to the path to rescue me. He kept the cows away so I could pass. He said they wouldn’t have hurt me, but I wasn’t taking any more risks. On both occasions I had nowhere I could move to get out of their way. I have never been so frightened in my life, and this has put me off walking alone.

I would like livestock to be kept away from National Trails. I understand it’s difficult when a path goes through a farmer’s field but when a National Trail is developed the livestock should not be allowed to wander onto it.”

Taw Marsh, Belstone, Devon. More broken bones in this, the second incident in this area.

Incident number: 908

Response ID: 304,915,812

Date: 16.07.24

Location: Taw Marsh Belstone Devon

A group of us were Walking across the moor, on a Public Right of Way, and attempting to avoid the group of cows like we always do as we have a dog and then all of a sudden, the group of cows charged towards us. I let the dog off the lead as he was clearly not helping but the cows kept advancing towards us. One particular cow appeared to be the ring leader and kept advancing no matter what direction we took. It eventually charged at one of our party and threw him off his feet which resulted in him breaking two ribs. I ran towards the cows with a stick and they eventually backed off otherwise I fear my friend would have been trampled. These were very dangerous Ferral animals and there are NO signs warning of their potential danger on the moor.

When incidents like this are reported these cows need to be confined – clearly there was one ring leader and the rest followed but this WILL end in a very serious incident if not attended to. We are quite traumatised but consider ourselves VERY lucky.”

The first incident in this area that we are aware of occurred in October 2023 when a rogue cow attacked a walker on their own. https://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-public-safety-on-dartmoor-needs-to-be-considered-623316

Airlifted to hospital by helicopter on New Year’s day. The second incident on Totley Moor in just a few months.

Incident number: 904

Response ID: 304,799,249

Date: 01.01.24

Location: Totley Moor, Derbyshire, Peak District

Cheska’s story “I was walking along the bridleway with my deaf elderly dog and partner. A herd of cows were seen in the distance and plenty of people had walked past them prior to us facing them. As we got closer the herd split up so we stopped to allow the rest of the herd to join where they were migrating to. As we had stopped one of the cows that had already crossed looked up and charged towards my dog. I got caught in the middle and was thrown in the air and suffered an open fracture to my tibia and fibula. As I had to lay on the floor the cow tried to charge at me again but I screamed in the cows face, shouting for help and the cow re-joined its herd. The bridleway was busy so it was easy to get attention of other walkers, Edale mountain rescue were called, they re-established blood flow to my leg and an air ambulance was called to take me to the hospital. I have had two surgery’s since, and as I’m pregnant (we had just found out) I had to be awake for both surgery’s! I suffer from severe PTSD and needed extensive therapy and physiotherapy

There were no signs for cattle & I’m shocked to learn what happened to me had happened to somebody just a few months prior in almost the same circumstances!”

A group of bullocks caused an urgent need to locate a safe exit

Report number: 901

Date of incident: 5/7/24

Site of incident: Three of us were crossing the Public right of way (PROW) on Coton Mill Farm land heading from Old Gayton Gorse to Mill Lane (OS Grid Reference: SJ 9783 3116) We were following the Pathfinder Staffordshire Outstanding Circular Walks Walk number 19: Milwich and Sandon Park.

Report: It was getting dusk and we were trying to return to Milwich where we had parked. We followed the PROW using OS Maps app and guide book. The field was quiet initially but around half way across we climbed to the top of a slope and were spotted by large young cows from the other side of the field. They were a distance away and we’re seasoned walkers with plenty of experience. We stayed close together and walked quietly and consistently.

It started with one bullock taking notice and like an excited puppy started enthusiastically making it’s way towards us. It was joined by more and more until we had a sizeable number behind us. I turned to face them and they stopped and leaned slightly back with heads low and pensive. I softly said hello and we continued to walk slowly, quietly and made sure our youngest member was protected. They lunged forwards a few times but held back…. playing.

It was really scary, especially when they started to get in front of us also. We did manage to cross the stile safely – but it felt like forever to complete the crossing. They didn’t hurt us, but maybe that’s because we have some experience and were extremely careful with our movements. When we completed our crossing we had the entire herd stood looking at us from the other side of the fence.

We need better marked PROW’s as the signs were appalling in this area apart from the farm on Old Gayton Gorse who had painted the way markers and stiles in high vis paint, which I thought was brilliant. The other farms however had very poorly maintained infrastructure and paths marked, slowing our progress considerably. Cattle were clearly used in multiple areas. We had encountered cattle earlier in the walk but they were young females and weren’t a problem.

If it wasn’t for access to GPS crossing that field where we were surrounded could have been very, very dangerous as it wasn’t clear exactly where our safe exit was.

Christina had 40 horned cattle charging at her

Report number:900

Date of incident: 3/7/24

Site of incident: The field near Warlies in Waltham Abbey

Report: We were aware there are cows in this field with baby’s but I have done this walk for years with no problems.

Two of us were walking, we couldn’t see the cows as we began, we always give them a wide birth, the dog was on a long lead but all of a sudden as we came down the hill the cows were in view. They were a large herd, with calves, cows (with horns) and heifers. I put the dog on a short lead. We stopped looked at the cows, they were just looking, and so we carried on walking as we’ve always done.

All of a sudden about 40 of them ran at us full speed. We ran as fast as we could and jumped into a tiny fenced off area, no bigger than 2m squared. It was a small barbed wire square around a tree. All of them swarmed us butting their heads at the fences and waving their horns around. I have never been so terrified in all my life, at one point I thought we might have to climb the tree. If we made any noise the cows just got more aggressive and loud so we had to stay quiet, they didn’t leave us.

We were stuck in there for a nearly an hour and had to call police to come and rescue us. I can’t believe we actually made it out, only with a few cuts of barbed wire, it was the most petrifying thing I have ever experienced.

I did see a sign that said to be aware of cattle and keep your dog close.

Jackie was headbutted to the ground

Report number:899

Date of attack: 27/06/24

Site of attack: what 3 words – Chopper.indulges.rates (possibly here) on the footpath from Daymark to Higher Town, St Martin’s in the Scilly Isles.

Report: Two of us were walking a there and back linear route, with no dog. The field had appeared empty at the start of our walk, (although we had noticed a sign saying ‘Cows in Field.’) When we returned to pass through it there were 2 bullocks (I think they were Red Devon) standing by the gate we needed to exit through. We approached giving them as much space as possible. As we passed, one of the cattle put his head low, took 4-5 paces towards me and headbutted me over onto the ground. Once on the ground I thought he was going to continue and trample me – it was an intentional ‘lunge’ and pretty frightening being headbutted and having an animal of that size and weight go for you, thank goodness the bullock moved away after that.

I was scraped and bruised and had numbness and tingling in my arm/hand for 3 days afterwards which I guess was nerve damage from the fall.

If cattle are feisty or mischievous they should not be kept in a field with a PROW. There should be separation. As a consequence, I would be unlikely ever to walk a PROW shared with livestock again which is very limiting. We did nothing to provoke or spook the animal (walking around it, giving as much distance as possible) and had no pets with us. I would be interested to know if others have been attacked here too.

Walkers and Farmers – we can help each other.

We all know that feeling, looking at a map of an unfamiliar area, trying to plan a route. Walkers enjoy the freedom that access to our footpath network gives them; most walkers are careful to respect the farmer’s land and often help keeping the footpaths clear, they can notify farmers if livestock are lose or look ill. Well tended farms with farmers following HSE guidelines help walkers. We all get to enjoy our beautiful countryside.

Scared out of a field: Twice in as many months!

Report number:892

Date of incident: 23/06/24

Site of incident: Close to OS Grid Ref: SY 63456 82538 on footpath going East to West, just south of Tatton Farm near Chickerell, in Dorset

We were walking on a public footpath in Dorset around 16:00 hrs. We had entered a field with a few cows in, so had put the 2 dogs on their leads. The cows were looking at us from a distance, though not approaching. We kept looking back to ensure they didn’t follow. All of a sudden, we became aware of another, different herd of cows ahead numbering approximately 25. We could see the stile we were making for, but the cows quickly surged towards us. My wife, who was very scared began to run with the dog she was looking after. I released my dog so it might follow her whilst I could try to slow the cows down, to allow them to make it to the stile. We are aware of the advice not to run, but it is a natural instinct to remove yourself from imminent danger. I did not run, just walking fast and shouting as loud as I could at the cows, swearing and repeatedly shouting no. This did slow down their approach, but did not stop it. I had now got close to the stile and continued to fend them off while my wife managed to get the dogs and herself over the stile (no doggy door to make things easier!). The herd continued to approach me as I got over the stile and swarmed around it after I had cleared it. I would not necessarily describe the cows as aggressive, although my wife did notice some leg stomping. They appeared youngish and it may just have been exuberance on their part, but the danger of contact with some very heavy animals was very real. This is our second near miss encounter in as many months and I am beginning to wonder whether my dogs (two flat coat retrievers) are of particular interest to cows.

We should not be intimidated out of using public footpaths. Warning signs are not enough. Landowners/farmers need to be more conscious of this issue. After all, they expect us to be sensible and considerate!