Stories – Page 20 – Cattle Safety

Lizzy’s story – attacked by a cow whilst walking in Gower Village

Response ID 293,300,682

Report number 811

Date of the attack: 24/10/24

Where: Southgate, Nr Swansea

I was walking along Southgate Road, which is a public road with houses on one side, my dog was on a lead beside me. As I turned the bend a group of 5/6 cows were walking on the opposite side of the road towards me. I moved as close to the houses as possible. The leader cow charged me making loud noises and head butted me to the ground. It was standing over me and I was petrified it would trample me.

I crawled and staggered towards a house where builders were working. The men helped me. I was in a lot of pain and I attended hospital the next morning. I have injuries to my hands and ribs.

There is common land near the village where cattle and sheep graze but these cows regularly roam on to public paths and roads in Southgate village where the public are at risk of injury or death. The farmer doesn’t seem to care.

I have reported this attack to the local authority and the HSE.

Jonathan’s unforgettable visit to Stonehenge 31/03/1972

Response ID: 293,315,471

Report number: 812

This happened a long time ago when I was just 12 years old but remains fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. Two of my older cousins aged 19 and 22, took my brother (aged 10) and I to see the stone circle at Stonehenge. After visiting the circle, we decided to walk back using the field rather than the roadway. We were walking along a well-worn footpath without a dog. There was a group of cows in the middle of the field about 300 feet away. One of them started mooing and we didn’t notice but they started moving slowly towards us.

We did not have an inkling that cows could be dangerous as in the public mind they are considered ‘gentle’ animals. They broached up around us very quickly and had us surrounded. They acted in a very aggressive manner. Luckily, my cousin had a walking stick and waved it at them, shouting. We backed up against the field’s fence and moved slowly along it without turning our backs. Eventually we came to a gate not far away and made a quick exit.

The cows followed us all the way and stood at the gate staring. I can still remember how they looked up close, they are big animals and at 12 years old they looked huge. We were all terrified and shaken & felt lucky to escape unharmed. Heaven forbid if we were not near the fence when it happened. Since that time I have enjoyed many walks in the countryside and have steadfastly refused to walk in any field with cows even if there was a public footpath. I always skirt around them. I do not believe that cows should be allowed in fields with public rights of way or they should be fenced off from the footpath. They are dangerous animals.

We need fences separating cows from public rights of way, warning signs for the public and more public awareness of the danger.

Angela’s story – Aggressive cow attacks walkers in Cheddar Gorge

292,890,420 Report Number 806

Date: 21/10/23

Where: Cheddar gorge , Black Rock walk , grid ref: ST482546 for car park at start of walk

Who was involved: 2 walkers , no dog, single black cow with a calf

We were walking along the footpath and a lone cow and calf were coming towards us. As we passed by, not making any noise and giving them a wide berth, the cow charged at my friend and started to head butt and attack him, pushing him into the hedge with force with repeated head butting.

Charged at by a herd in Derbyshire

Report number: No. 749

Date of Incident 12 08 23

Location: Cliff Farm, Elton, Derbyshire. On public footpath.

Single person, no dog

When I entered the field the cattle and bull were lying down mostly at the bottom of the field a good distance away from me and the footpath. I didn’t see any young with them. As I started walking across the field they stood up and one started making an awful, aggressive sound. I continued calmly, didn’t change direction or pace and kept walking away from them.

There were a couple of cows very close to the footpath, they let me pass without any problem. I heard more noise, looked back and they were starting to walk quickly towards me, so I sped up as the field is quite big. When I looked back again they had start running towards me along with the two I had recently passed by. So I had to run!

I just made it to gap in the wall before the closest one reached me. I dived through and my ankle caught in the gap and fell. I hurt my ankle, shin and knee as I fell. It was a terrifying experience, the gate very close by was wide open and they could have come through there so I was still terrified as I crossed the next field. Thankfully, they stayed at the wall and continued to make aggressive noises.

Additional note – I had walked through another field previously with cattle (grid ref – SK21972 61197) I don’t know if it belongs to the same farm. This was a much smaller field and they had young with them. The cows didn’t mind me walking through, even though I had to walk straight through the herd and I had no issues, however I did notice as I was a good way over the field that there was a massive bull in there too with no signage anywhere. If it’s the same farm, it makes me think it’s a farmer with a bad attitude to walkers and rights of way.

Tom’s story – a cow with calf blocking the way and a blind farmer

Report number: 750

Date of incident: 7/8/23

Where: Yorkshire Dales, specifically on the public footpath between Carperby and Castle Bolton

No dog, 2 walkers

We were walking through fields toward Castle Bolton, our walk was about 90% completed. We saw ahead of us, a metal gate. On the other side of that gate, only about 15 feet away from it, we saw the rear of one cow. When we were about 45 – 50 feet from the gate we could see that the gate was the footpath’s exit route from the field. The cow turned around to face us directly. When we got a little closer we saw one very young calf (looked like it was born 5 or 10 days ago; I’ve seen a cow give birth, so I’m familiar with what a very young calf looks like,) the very young calf was suckling the cow that had just turned around to face us. We approached a little more, (now we were about 20 feet from the gate) and we saw that TWO very young calves were suckling the cow. We KNEW that we would not/could not open the gate and enter given the cow’s proximity to the gate. Also, if we had opened the gate, a dry stone wall was to our immediate right, and the cow would have been about 15 feet to our immediate left, and it was a long way to the next gate.

A collection of frightening spoiled walks by cattle

Incident number: 760

Response number: 289,034,458

31^st May 2023

Location: Brown Knowl Cheshire

Two of us were walking on a public right of way with no dogs. When getting within 50 metres of a bullock which was in a herd of other bullocks, it started to growl (it really sounded like a lion!) It lowered its head and got closer (we were luckily on the other side of the gate) and started to scrape its hoof along the floor. There was no way I would enter this footpath with this bullock displaying this aggressive behaviour. The rest of the bullocks look confused by this one’s behaviour. Unfortunately if you entered the field at the other end via the footpath you would find this bullock and would have no way of escaping it without injury via a barbed wire fence.

Slothgirl says “Farmers being held accountable for dangerous livestock and being separated from footpaths. Cows are large animals and should not be in places with footpaths or at least separated by an electric fence.”

Incident number: 765

Response number: 289,134,527

Date: 27/8/2023

Timberhill Farm & Farmers Farm, Dymock, Gloucestershire

Two of us were walking with our dog on a lead on the Daffodil Way. We altered our route when we saw a group of cows in the corner of the field where the footpath was headed. We diverted along a hedge of neighbouring field to bring us out onto a track which was alongside these cows. Whilst we walked along this track, wire fence between us and the cows, the cows were bucking and highly charged, careering at the fence towards us. Had we been in the field with them where the right of way was we both feel we would have been in a highly dangerous position.

Incident number: 775

Response number: 289,959,328

5^th September 2023

Public footpath heading east from Berry Wood, Ashurstwood towards former Stoke Brunswick School Ashurstwood, West Sussex

Two of us were walking with our dog on the lead. We were half way across the field and I had noticed approximately 20 cattle (I think they were red poll) approximately 100 yards away. Whilst still walking they began to charge towards us – as the style was circa 50 yards away we decided to run – with dog still on lead and just got there before the cattle – This was extremely frightening. I had experienced this type of cattle charging at another close by location before – this time I was behind a fence – but knew they were not going to stop hence ran to the style

Stone circle visit abruptly ended by a herd of cows

Incident number: 777

Response number: 290,254,769

28^th August 2023

Glandy Cross (Wales)

My husband and I were looking at the ancient stone circle at Glandy Cross without a dog. There were cows two fields away. One was looking at us and was mooing loudly. I got caught up in looking at the stones and was behind a bush. My husband shouted that it was time to go from further down the field near the gate. I didn’t hear him mention cows but apparently he did but it was a distance away. Not being aware of the danger I strolled back and he started shouting at me to run. I turned and realised that a herd of about15 cows were about ten feet behind me looking agitated. I froze. I climbed on to a low bank to give myself some thinking space when he shouted that there were more cows behind me. I could feel the breath of one on my neck. The cows weren’t advancing. I looked to my husband and the minute I took my eyes off them they quickly advanced another three feet. They were very agitated. I didn’t want to enrage them but needed to do something so I kept eye contact, shouted loudly and backed away slowly. My husband came back into the field to distract them. I moved slowly and they slowly stalked me. When I got near enough to the gate I ran. The minute I did, they charged and I just got through the kissing gate before they came crashing into the fence. I learned that if a cow is mooing aggressively it’s time to go. Also, it seemed that my running was a trigger for the final charge.

Zepmum says “I heard today that an ex colleague of mine was attacked by a cow a few days ago. She suffered a broken pelvis and had to be airlifted. She was with her husky and a dog but I don’t know any more details yet.”

Thank goodness the cows stopped their charge!!!

Incident number: 772

Response number: 289,529,493

29^th August 2023

Near the village of Gotherington (GL52 9QX)

The local farmer has a herd of cows in the lower field near the railway line, and as the day continues they migrate up to the top field. It is a large field with two footpaths leading through it. I was walking my dog on a lead and at some distance to the cows, as I took a wide berth allowing them plenty of space. Both the exit points to the field were blocked by the cows so I waited some time for them to move away. I was there for some time until I made the decision to try and pass by safely. I proceeded slowly with caution and allowed them time to see me. (all the time the dog was on a lead.) I got halfway down the hill when one cow on my right at quite a distance saw me and started mooing. The cows behind me started mooing as well and started to run down towards me. The cow on my right took speed and charged at me running up the hill very fast. I was surrounded. I had no way of escaping. I stood with my arms out (like a starfish) and shouted and cried at full volume. The cows behind me running and mooing in great distress. The cow on my right is still in full charge mode. I continued to scream and wave my arms around, and she stopped within 10 feet of me. I slowly reversed up the hill keeping a close eye on all the cows who had surrounded and I managed to get some distance from them and get out of danger. I then had a much longer walk around and along a dangerous main road to get home safely. My neighbour kindly came and found me halfway back home as I was in great distress. There are many skid marks in the grass indicating what had happened if you need any photographic evidence. This has happened before to my son and after speaking to other members of the public who have had similar situations.

I reported to Heath and Safety Executive and they are investigating.

Ben was lucky to be fit and able to run and wants paths to be safe for other walkers.

Incident number: 771

Response number: 289,519,286

30^th August 2023

The Goyt valley, Romiley

I was walking alone without a dog for an evening walk and headed down a public footpath from Overdale Road to Dark Lane (Goyt Valley). I saw that cows were on the field where they had not usually been seen. I walked a bit more slowly and was under the impression they would leave me alone. As the field path became a wooded path and then went down a relatively steep embankment ,(I was almost completely past them) I noticed a black cow in my peripheral vision come charging at me from behind. I quickly ran down part of the embankment to hide behind a tree. The cow waited at the ridge above and continued looking towards me. By this point it was essentially off the field and on the wooded path. I weighed up my options: I could probably have climbed the tree as I am active and climb a lot, but didn’t know where to go from there. In the end I ran further down the embankment with a view to hide behind another tree further away. I judged (I don’t know how accurately) the cow would have a difficult time running down the steep incline, and there were several other trees to barrier the way. Once it became clear the cow was not following me I ran to the style and got onto the fenced path as quickly as possible. I thankfully came out with no injuries but was extremely lucky to have caught the cow charging at me from the edges of my vision. Once home and safe I shared a laugh at my own expense with my family about having been charged at whilst out for a peaceful stroll, but it was honestly one of the most frightening experiences of my life – I have very little experience with cattle and didn’t know the right thing to do. I’ve told my family not to go down that field if they see cows on it as I know they frequent that route, however it is a public right of way! I’ve since done some Googling on how to safely traverse fields of cattle as I was quite ignorant of any danger. I was fortunate to be near the edge of the field and something of a viable escape route, if I had been charged at earlier on in the open field I would probably have fared a lot worse.

Ben says “I’d just like the route to be safe for walkers.”

Multiple spoiled walks and near misses – badly scared walkers

Killer Cows receives many varied reports of aggressive and scary behaviour by cattle, and several of our recently reported incidents are posted below. There does not seem to be one type of breed that is safer and we cannot assume that because cattle did not react the last time we walked through their field, they will be equally calm the next. Farmers can fail to spot when cattle are a risk – so how can we notice?

Our reports are split with 50% having a dog present, 50% not. These incidents have happened in quiet rural spots and in areas where there is a lot of public footfall. Each incident results in badly scared walkers; they are no longer able to enjoy the wonderful freedom of walking along a footpath without worrying whether there are cattle in the next field.

The guidance issued by NFU or The Ramblers can work in some occasions, but not in others. Signage doesn’t seem to be updated to reflect whether cattle are present at the time you are walking – so no help at all. Signs warning of cattle in fields don’t absolve the farmer of their duty of care to walkers, but they may deter some walkers – and some farmers may be happy with this result. There are farmers who are actively looking at ways to keep walkers safe and are proactively working with the legislative bodies – we applaud them. Our footpaths give us access to our countryside, we need to feel safe to enjoy them.

Read the varied accounts below –

Nicky’s story – one of the cows started pawing the ground…

290,885,628 report number 786

Incident date 31/3/2020

Dipton (County Durham) DH9 9JY

I was out for a walk with my husband and 2 children (age 7 and 9) and we climbed over a stile into a field we normally walk through that is a public footpath. There was a herd of cows and calves in the field about 50 metres away. We stood still and discussed if we should walk through them.

Whilst we were stood there, one of the cows started pawing its hoof at the ground and the next moment was charging at us. The children and my husband were able to run and climb the stile, but as I ran, I fell to the floor. (We were unsure if this was due to impact from the cow or if I fell over a hole in the ground.)

I laid on the ground bracing myself waiting for the impact of the cow but thank goodness it didn’t come and I looked up to see the cows udders above me. My husband ran to me and then, thank goodness, the cow walked away. The children were screaming.

My foot was injured and swelled up immediately and I was unable to weight bear. I should have attended A&E that day but due to covid I was reluctant but I attended the following day and had an x-ray. Initially it was thought to be fractured but this was ruled out and I had a moon boot on my foot and was unable to drive for a few weeks after the incident. I had some physiotherapy sessions.

Comment: After the incident I was in shock and looked to see who I could report it to but my understanding was that there was no-one I could report to as I hadn’t had a serious injury or been taken straight to hospital. Every time I passed the site, I saw people and children walking in the same field as the cows and I just felt I had to do something. I managed to track down the farmer and told him about the incident. He was horrified and asked me to identify the cow so he could remove the cow from the herd. He also put a warning sign up at the entrance to the field to warn that cows with calves can be dangerous.

Dave’s story – unprovoked attack by a cow

Response ID 292,302,524, report number 799

Date: 12/10/23

Where: Near Ashley Walk Car Park, New Forest, nearest village Godshill

While walking with my 2 Cocker Spaniels this morning near Snake road we were subjected to a sustained & totally unprovoked attack by a lone dark grey cow. We were about 25 yards from the animal & heading away from it when it suddenly charged at the dogs. It took them by surprise & almost caught one of them but the dog managed to roll away from under its hooves.

Then the cow turned its attention to me & charged. It was a truly terrifying moment as it thundered towards me, only pulling up when about a foot away. I slowly backed away as it followed wild-eyed & snorting . I moved more quickly backwards without running & eventually it lost interest & we made our escape.

My dogs were unharmed, I was badly scared.

The warning signs in the New Forest are all about not letting your dog worry livestock. Nothing about the danger to humans or dogs

This has been reported to New Forest National Park Authority

There has been a huge increase in the number of cattle in the New Forest in recent years. It has become very difficult to avoid contact with them. It would be great to have some cattle-free areas where people can walk without fear of attack.