Tag: cows with calves

Cows and calves!


Incident number: 870
Date of incident: 27.05.24
Site: Between Boscubben and Trendrine Farm on the footpath between Zennor and St. Ives in Cornwall


We were a group of 3 adults and 4 dogs, we noticed cows with calves in the field ahead of us, so as we approached the field, we started to put the dogs on leads.
One cow charged to the front very aggressively. We tried to circumnavigate the field, with the herd following us round being very frisky. The cattle were too aggressive so we had to give up and double back.

I am not risk averse, but to proceed would have been foolhardy. A dogless couple aborted an attempt just after we had tried, but succeeded after we had left the scene suggesting the dogs were the spark for the cow’s aggression.

We were not injured but badly frightened.

Killer Cows comment: The Health and Safety Executive strongly suggests that farmers do not put cows with calves in fields where footpaths pass through. HSE recognise the risk and English law states that farmers have a duty of care towards those who walk across their land.

This occurred in an area where there are many walkers, surely there should be clear signage to an alternative cattle-free route if the farmer cannot manage to fence off the footpath.

Spoiled walk in Kielder Forest

Report number 819

Date of incident 15/11/23

Site of incident

  • 55°10.536’N, 2°24.589’W What3words ///scrambles.wiring.urgent

Kielder Forest, Northumberland

No dogs, 2 people

The cows were feeding close to the entrance of the field as we approached the gate. The young cows were spooked by us as we approached and the mother cow was then standing her ground close to the entrance. We did not feel confident to enter the field with her blocking our way.

We were too scared to enter the field and had to reroute our walk.

Killer Cows comment:

“Some farmers elect to place cattle to deter walkers from crossing their land, others are ignorant of HSE advice. We don’t know whether this farmer was deliberately or unknowingly contravening HSE guidance.”

“HSE state in their guidance that cows with calves should not be sited in fields with public footpaths. Also cattle should not be fed close to the footpaths.”

Trampled

Response ID 294,721,170

Report number 820

When: 24/11/23

Where: Meadow Lane, Yoxall, Burton on Trent (52.7570756, -1.7784786)

My mum and I were walking on a public footpath with dogs on leads. There was a group of cows with calves on the other side of a large field, they were a way off and we weren’t concerned as our dogs are very well trained, they are used to cattle and ignore them. The cows charged towards us, we instructed our dogs to sit back from us – which they did. One cow got to my mum, pushed her over to the ground with its head and began trampling her. I then did my best to fight it off but it kept throwing me off with its horns so it could continue trampling.

Continue reading “Trampled”

Near-miss story – Maddi’s Tale

Maddi escaped by hiding under a tree. A terrifying experience.

In April this year, three of us were walking on a public footpath through Tring Park, in Herefordshire. There was a sign on a gate that warned us to be careful of cows, especially with dogs. We didn’t have a dog with us, so we weren’t particularly worried.

Suddenly, a herd of cows came over a hill and began running straight towards us. They had calves with them.

We ran away, but they chased us. To try to escape, we turned off the path and hid under a tree. The cows stopped on the path and began walking slowly towards us. They started to surround the tree. We were terrified.

Slowly, we started to walk away (instead of running). Thankfully they didn’t follow us.

When we got near the gate out of the field, and thinking we were safe, we stopped to talk. Suddenly, the cows suddenly started running at us again. We raced to the gate and managed to get away.

We didn’t have a dog with us, so there was no reason for the attack. I have no doubt that if we hadn’t got out of their way by hiding under the tree, they would have trampled us.

Luckily nobody was hurt, but we were badly frightened. Afterwards we reported it to the Woodland Trust (who own the park), but as far as we know there has been no further investigation.

More people should be aware of how dangerous cows can be. Possibly we need to fence off paths when they pass through a field of cattle.