Hoofed and dangerous: Britain's killer cows
NFU warning to walkers with dogs after fourth death of the summer
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Four people have been trampled to death by cows in just over eight weeks this summer, prompting British farmers and the Ramblers Association to warn yesterday of the potential dangers.
The spate of incidents is regarded as highly unusual; in the past eight years there have only been 18 deaths in total caused by cattle of all kinds – including incidents involving bulls, which have always been known to present risks.
Cows have been thought to be generally docile, and this remains true, the National Farmers' Union emphasised yesterday. However, the NFU pointed to the fact that at least two of the four deaths involved walkers with dogs, which may be a factor in turning cows from placid cud-chewing bystanders into potential killers.
"Cows can get aggressive in the presence of dogs, especially if they have their calves with them," Robert Sheasby, the NFU's rural surveyor, said yesterday. "They see the dog as a threat, and take exception to it. Cows are generally placid and docile, but when a mother animal feels the protection of her offspring is at risk, temperaments can change."
The first of this summer's fatal incidents seems to have conformed to that pattern: it occurred on 21 June in the Yorkshire Dales when a veterinary surgeon from Warrington in Cheshire, Liz Crowsley, was walking along the Pennine Way near Hawes with her two dogs, a spaniel and a collie. She was found dead, having apparently been trapped against a wall and then trampled. Police speculated that Ms Crowsley's dogs may have sparked the attack.
In what may have been a similar incident, 63-year-old Anita Hinchey was trampled to death on 18 July when walking her dog in a field on the outskirts of Cardiff. Three days earlier, 65-year-old Barry Pilgrim was killed when walking with his wife in the countryside near Sheldon in Derbyshire. It is believed Mr Pilgrim did not have a dog with him, but he was attacked by cows who were accompanied by their calves.
This summer's fourth fatal incident occurred on 11 August, when a 75-year-old farmer, Harold Lee from Burtle in Somerset, was trampled and killed by his own herd. It is thought the animals may have been frightened by a passing fire engine.
This total of four deaths, in such a short time, has caused concern. "It's certainly something we're not used to seeing. This year has been very unusual," Mr Sheasby said. "It is very unfortunate that three walkers can be killed in the space of a few weeks, and we would hope that this is an unfortunate coincidence."
There are about 7.5 million cows in the fields of Britain, who share the landscape with millions of rambling Britons in the summer. No one knows just how many walkers are out on a given day, but the numbers are clearly very high – each of Britain's 18 national parks will chalk up between 20 and 40 million day visits every year.
As a fully-grown cow can weigh anything from three-quarters of a tonne to a tonne, it does not take much for serious injury to be inflicted on anyone unfortunate enough to be on the end of a sudden bout of bovine bad temper.
Someone who can testify to this painful truth is David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary, who was attacked by a cow while walking in the Peak District on 6 June, his 62nd birthday, and suffered bruising and a broken rib. Once again, a dog was involved – in this case, the blind MP's trusted guide dog, Sadie.
The NFU joined with the Ramblers yesterday in offering a key piece of advice: if you feel menaced by cows when you have a dog with you, let it go, as it may well be the dog that is causing the problem.
"Your dog will outrun the cattle and you can then make your own way to safety," Mr Sheasby said. "At most times it is important to keep your dog on a lead in the countryside, but if you feel under threat because of it, let it go and put it back on its lead later."
Cows are not generally dangerous, he added. "They are naturally curious, rather than naturally aggressive, as well as short-sighted, and they will often come right up to you just to see who is in the field with them." But it was important, he said, not to let your dog get between a cow and its calf.
Wild animals: Creatures on the attack
*Cows are not the only livestock causing problems this summer. Yesterday a farmer described his ordeal after becoming one of the first people in Britain to be bitten by an alpaca, the South American relative of the llama.
Rob Rawlins, 52, had to be airlifted to hospital after an animal at the Wellground Alpaca Stud Farm, near Westbury, Wiltshire, sank its teeth into his lower left arm as he tried to stop a "dominance fight" with another male.
"I tried to intervene, which was when I was caught on the arm by one of them," said Mr Rawlins. "The bite had not been intended for me but unfortunately my arm got in the way. I was able to remove my arm using my other hand and that really was the end of the incident, although I did end up with quite a nasty wound." Allen Brown, treasurer of British Camelids Association, representing llamas and alpaca farmers, said he had never heard of anyone being bitten in that way by the animals.
*Two people have died in recent days after being stung by wasps in separate attacks. Farmer Mark Evison, 47, of Ellerker, East Yorkshire, disturbed a wasps' nest while clearing a dyke and was attacked by the swarm. Mr Evison was allergic to wasps and when emergency services reached him, he was already in the advanced stages of anaphylactic shock – a life-threatening allergic reaction – and died at the scene. Joan Russell, 81, of Holt, Norfolk, collapsed within minutes of being stung on her hand while washing up and never regained consciousness.
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Comments
I told my Dad who was a keen rambler and he sat me down and told me the 'rules' about cows:
Don't go near cows if you can avoid them.
Don't go anywhere near cows if they have calves with them.
If you must walk through a field of cows, stay close to the edge.
Never take a dog near cows.
They are not particularly aggressive (unless you give them a reason) and I have happily fed them, while standing on the other side of a wall, but they are very big and very heavy and so should be avoided.
I was walking through a field full of bullocks, with my bicycle. At fist I thought about hoofing it, until I realized that they where all grazing at the bike.
It cud have been really scary and for a while I had a rump in my throat. Normally keeping style and staying calm will sirloin help calm the situation..
animals other than us have instincts, thoughts and yes, even feelings and i'm sick of reading tales of 'gee whizz, so they do' ;
to a cow a human, especially an assertive- looking human striding assertively along expressing assertively his /her right to roam plus assertive dog(s), is a threat to its calf, and safety lies with the herd which will act selflessly as one for the greater good ( remember all those lovely bloodthirsty TV shows of 'wild' herbivores gathering together to head off carnivorous foes?);
dumb city dwellers and novice country dwellers there for the view seem to think that because we have genetically modified (aka domesticated) some animals to suit our needs for food, work or companionship, we have eliminated all their instincts;
humans need to show some understanding and humility in their dealings with all these 'dangerous' wasps and cows and even killer jellyfish ( remember 'this animal is dangerous- when you attack it, it will defend itself'?)- and watch out for that dangerous dog trotting assertively alongside - its just waiting to bite you!
The similar story of has been continous 2009 spring/summer epic in Cumbrian Newspapers/News&Star with recently comment added. As mentioned above why in Scotland just less than 8 Miles away from Carlisle in England signage seems suitable for warnings but in this countryside city memorial park frequented by Hadrian Wall Tourist Walkers, Dog Owners and young families all that exists is signage "Keep Your Dog On Lead" on notice board.
My grandparents 1950's farm in Derbyshire had one tethered black bull which was instilled into me by vexed (also sometimes feared!) grandad to keep away from the beast with its stubby little yellowish horns. I needed no further heeding as I seen the taught rope anchored firmly onto a wall which being another firm barrier to safety. Note that also less such traditional stone walls are now built on farms as some get vandalised and costly to rebuild with stonewall craft vanishing and farmers obviously cannot afford a roll of barb with maybe other aspects of probable health and safety gone mad.
I would like to know more about these "attacks".
Which breed of cattle is involved?
I doubt that Jersey cows have been involved for example, or several other traditional dairy breeds.
OK, I know calf presence changes this a bit, but by & large, know your cattle, be sensible (don't have a dog with you for example) & there should be no problem.
By the way, a fire engine with lights & siren would spook me so I am not surprised it "allegedly" spooked that herd.
I have often walked through fields full of cows, mostly they are very interested, I think it's the dogs that cause the problem.
A few years ago I was on a walk with a women's group I belong to and a farm dog joined us just as we started to walk through a the field, it teased the cows and got tossed for its trouble, it wasn't hurt and, It ran off and the herd of cows went back to eating grass and watching (Cows fear dogs because they are predators) us as we continued our travels through the field I am never frightened of any animal and have happily walked through a field with a bull in it without incident.
If you smell of fear most animals will react with fear, because they wonder why you are frightened, and think that there is a predator about.
If you are uncertain, about walking through a field of any animals I would avoid it.
They can even be playful. On too many occasions for it to be coincidence, herds of cattle have come in pursuit of my other half. I tell her that this is yet another tribute to her attractiveness and personal magnetism, and therefore only to be expected - indeed, a sort of compliment; they clearly feel something of what I feel! She inexplicably remains unimpressed by this.
But we were once pursued by a very large herd, the younger ones intermittently kicking their back legs into the air, which gathered round us just as we were approaching a stile that gave access to the road. As my partner was mounting the stile, a heifer crept up behind her, waited until she was poised at the very top, and nudged her with its backside so that she all but fell off on to the road. I don't know what a cow's laugh might sound like, but it just felt as if they were all taking the p**s! I didn't know whether to be relieved or indignant, but they ignored me completely.
But you take a risk if you walk a dog through a field with a large herd, and, frankly, anyone who takes a dog into a field with calves is asking for it. In general, even without a dog, better to walk around the herd rather than try to walk through them, even if you have to deviate from the line of the path. And walking between a cow and her calf is certainly best avoided.
Sheep, on the other hand, just scarper. But watch out for plastic bags! Quite a few farmers round here feed their ewes and lambs "sheepy trests" out of plastic bags. So sheep that would otherwise always keep a wary distance can be transformed by the sight of a plastic bag. Last year, coming back from the shop and without thinking, I took a short cut across the field beside our house carrying a plastic bag, and was mobbed by bawling ewes and lambs for 200 yards. Opening the bag and demonstrating that all I had was Sainsbury's best, with not a sheep treat in sight even at the bottom, didn't convince them. I trod on their feet, they butted my backside, and I had to fight them off at the gate, or they'd have been up the path and in at the back door with me ...
But we should keep these things in perspective. The chances of death or injury from cattle are minute compared to other risks that we take for granted - the risk of being hit by a car when walking down a pavement, for example, let alone crossing the road. And then there is driving a car. Nearly 1000 people die a year as a result of accidental poisoning or exposure to noxious chemicals.
I regularly walk my dog through fields containing cows, calves and often a bull as well, and have never had any trouble. Cattle are generally scared of people and if you stand up to them and wave your arms about and shout they invariably back off. The more nervous and hesitant you are the more of a nuisance they can be.
Most beef farmers, certainly with pedigree or pure bred herds will keep them as sucklers out on pasture for most of the year. The meat is healthier when grown this way and is a more natural product. It would be interesting to know what breeds were involved, if calves were presnet I would be 99% certain it was beef herds. In terms of the practice having been phased out, I'm not aware of this and farmers today are certainly being pushed to 'reduce carbon footprint' and the Government are encouraging properly grown, local food. Beef from grass produces far less CO2 and methane (the lastes badwagon story) than indoor reared or imported meat.
That aside, I agree with your comments re cows and calves - they will always protect them, and rightly so! (My husband and I wouldn't dream of coming between a cow and her calf and we walk amongst our 60+ suclkers on a daily basis. If only the human fraternity of mothers and children looked after their offspring as well as cows do - we might not have so many violated, abused and often murdered toddlers.
Lastly, I am shocked and disappointed that a newspaper such as The INdependant feels it needs to use such alarmist and potentially damaging headlines.
It's morphic resonance. The cows are tuning in and conspiring.
Be afraid, humans. Be very afraid!
My advice is when you go into a field where there are cows with calves try and get a feel for the collective mood, skirt the edge of the herd if possible and if any come rushing towards you, avoid anything more than a brief eye contact. If any particular animal comes close give it a brief look then keep your head down and try and head away from the pack.
*Top tips*
Try to target the ring leader since the other cows are gauging its behavior at least as much as they are gauging yours.
Always have a cloak or jacket at hand, you can hold this up to one side and if the cows take a lunge at you the jacket works well as a distraction. I have seen this technique used successfully on many occasions in Spain . It works especially well in combination with a selection of short barbed spears that can be plunged into the passing cows shoulders in order to weaken it. Remember slay the ring leader and the rest of the herd wont be feeling nearly quite so hard!
"Your dog will outrun the cattle and you can then make your own way to safety," Mr Sheasby said. "At most times it is important to keep your dog on a lead in the countryside, but if you feel under threat because of it, let it go and put it back on its lead later."
This is stupid advice: If my dog senses I am at risk of attack by another animal or human it is far more likely to defend me by attacking the animal in question , the last thing he's likely to do is run away. And after he has attacked the cattle , what then ? I'll tell you , farmer reports attack to police , police take dog , dog is put down , and I have to pay comepensation to the farmer.
Cows are a menace here , they destroy the paths , and I have never seen a farmer make any effort to repair the damage his cattle do to the paths .
I think this is just the latest whinge from the farming community , they got slapped down about the badgers , so now they'll start on the ramblers again. Don't forget we all support farming via our taxes , whether we buy the produce or not, and we all have the right to roam on public access land.
I have also had to turn back due to impassable tracks covered in overflow from silage tanks , and manure from pens being washed down flooding the track. Farmers should be more responsible , if the cattle are a threat to walkers how about they fence them off from the paths then? Why should I have to be responsible for changing my behaviour because they want to let cattle wander about all over the place?
Do you own a business? An office perhaps? Would you give me a RIGHT to walk through your offices and would you be agreeable to ensure that you provide me with a completely safe and clean environment at all times? Would you also please fence off a track through your factory/office so I don't come into contact with any of your workers or produce. No? Well perhaps you would consider a 'joint responsibility' where you'll let me walk where you deem it safe and not just where I want to go. Sadly farmers dpon't have this luxury as many footpaths are there by common right - which they respect!
There appears to be a basic resentment that there are public rights of way across 'their' land that they can do nothing about. I totally disagree that farmers respect this right as I have seen too much evidence that farmers will use every trick in the book to discourage the public from exercising their rights to use these paths.
The most used trick of the trade is to put cows/calves and of course the highly effective bull in fields where there is public access even though most farmers have plenty of options to place these animals in fields where there is no public access. The dark side of this game of cat and mouse is that farmers know that these animals are dangerous in certain situations. By continuing to make conscious decisions to place cows/calves/bulls in fields with public access as opposed to another field with no public access, then should some unfortunate person die as a result then I think it is more than likely that farmers will start to find themselves being sued or even in the criminal courts.
generally cows are inquisitive and timorous animals unless protecting their young; it hardly takes much common sense to figure that out; those people died of stupidity.
What's wrong with us? What have we become. Where is our respect for the creatures we share this planet with? Is it any wonder that they're pissed at us?
And I think Smarties is an excellent idea , as long as I don't pay for them , and I am sure farmers would much rather keep the cattle indoors , cheaper,easier,cleaner,less work, like they do with pigs,chickens and turkeys, never see the light of day , let alone a rambler. Good job there's plenty of townies to eat them up or they wouldn't exist at all.
Education being what it is today these intelligent creatures have probably all read "Animal Farm" and so I would particularly caution anyone from going near the pigsty.
Once, when walking through Cornwall, where the farmers specialised in destroying pathways, obstructing gates and generally denying the public right to roam (approx 1993) I found myself standing in a huge field, utterly lost and surrounded by what seemed 1,000 young bulls. Again, no problem but stepping around the pats was more than difficult.
In Carlisle, I had the misfortune to attend the Art Colllege and due to some dodgy advice, found myself walking daily through a golf course, that becomes a large piece of common land and acts as a popular park. In winter it floods heavily but for large parts of the year farmers let their cows and sheep roam freely, with nothing to separate the bovine herd from the cows. It only took a few days before the cows got to know me and one in particular decided that it like the flavour of my leather jacket. Every day, this same cow would trot along licking at my elbow while I walked to and from college.
To me, the change came in the post Foot-and-Mouth years. When visiting durham, I took my dog - a Lakeland Terrier who had long known the area on a the same walk that I grew up with. We walked the same fields I have walked hundreds of times, climbed the same stiles and attempted to reach the same destination. This was the first and only time i have ever been threatened by a herd of cows. The speed, efficiency and tactical advantage of their 3 flank maneuver was indescribable. The message was clear, this path is closed to humans. The dog was not threatening to them, we were actually walking no less than 100feet from the nearest cow and not heading in direction of mothers or calves. Whats happened is that the gentile cows we once had in england got shot on mass and replaced by a bunch of assholes from the continent. And, no, thats not a moan about Europe, I love the EU and much of what Europe represents. I just dont like the offensive cows they sent to england.
We will get rabies in UK and the worlds if we do not take cares of the dogs vaccinate them. So what are the cows for. Milk. They give us calcium and chesses but we fail to take care of them WE FAIL.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla