walking through fields with livestock

I was under the impression that East Anglia is made up of much more arable land, and therefore had much less livestock than other parts of the country. Although my in-laws live in Suffolk, I haven't done much walking in the area - so I could be wrong.

But do you have any idea how many cases of livestock 'attacks' (not necessarily deaths - although I suspect that not all cases would have been reported) have happened by county (or larger area)?

 

I will try to find out. In the meantime, a quote from the HSE

Between April 2001 and March 2007, 22 agricultural workers were killed as a result of livestock, mostly cattle. A further 800 injuries were reported to HSE over the same period.

In addition, there are undoubtedly large numbers of minor incidents and near misses that the HSE never hears about and many serious accidents are not reported to the HSE. For example, there have been several studies into livestock accidents and these suggest that up to 24% of livestock producers are injured every year significantly, if you have had one injury you are three times more likely to have another.

...
if you have had one injury you are three times more likely to have another.

I wonder why - can livestock sense fear like some other animals?

Ok, I know that in the UK there's the whole 'right to roam' and I think that's great.  But honestly, having the right doesn't mean it's a good idea.

As someone who's grown up on a farm, and around other farms, and is now married to a cattle farmer, my advice is...just stay the hell out!  If you are not 100% familiar with the animals in a particular field, find someplace else to walk.  As people keep noting, there's no shortage of walking/hiking paths; chances are you can find another route to wherever it is you want to walk.

Also, with regards to taking dogs, if you really must take your dog with you through an area containing livestock (and please, ask yourself if you really must), make sure that you can let go the lead quickly.  If something charges at you and the dog, let the dog go.  Your dog can get away faster than you can, and it's what the cow/sheep/whatever will focus on. 

3 people have been attacked, if that is the right word, in Cambridgeshire in the last year or so.  They say you should never try to save your dog, like Woadgirl said.

There was a bull on a field about 1/2 way through the West Highland Way.  There were a few people waiting at the gate and we all walked through together quickly and quietly.  No way I was going back 50 some miles. 

Yes, I'm of the mode to move quickly and quietly pass the animals to not frighten them.

Years ago I stayed in a B&B on a dairy farm and the owner (farmer's wife?) said I could cut through the field where the cows were and that they wouldn't take any notice of me.  It was my first experience walking in the countryside alone and past livestock and I was a bit nervous about it.  Well, all the cows came running after me!  I had no choice but to run as well and got to the end of the field and got up and over the fence just in time!  Maybe they could sense I was afraid, because they certainly did take notice of me.

I wouldn't do much walking if I didn't go through fields of cows, sheep, etc.! I've never felt worried about it, although I have heard the stories. I think as long as you use good common sense and are ALWAYS RESPECTFUL of the fact that the fields are not yours, you'll be fine. I know there are public rights of way, however, that doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want to. Sorry to sound so peeved, but there's a certain type of rambler that really bugs me (not talking about anyone here). Common sense and respect will go a long way.

I agree with the above. 
When we lived in a village I did plenty of walking through farmland.  The worst thing to happen was that I stepped in some things that I should have stepped over.

I agree with the above. 
When we lived in a village I did plenty of walking through farmland.  The worst thing to happen was that I stepped in some things that I should have stepped over.

Hee.

Also, as someone who has been around many herds of horses (and cows, actually), I think it's always good to remember that you are basically walking through their "house".  They will react, and they're not only reacting to you but to all the OTHER people that have walked through before and how those walkers behaved.  On our walks here, I've actually found that it can go either way on the popular paths, either people are well behaved and so the animals are comfy with it, or they get a lot of attention (positive and negative) from the walkers and then react to everyone accordingly. The nipping and treat begging drives me absolutely crazy though, so I tend to stomp away and radiate the fact the I'm ignoring them if they come over for them.  DH is not a fan of anything larger than a rabbit, so he's quite happy to have me on the "animal side" of any situation.
I'm sorry some of you have had scary things happen! It's so hard to know what to do when they're not your animals, and when 1200 lbs of cow comes bounding towards you!

As someone who's grown up on a farm, and around other farms, and is now married to a cattle farmer, my advice is...just stay the hell out!  If you are not 100% familiar with the animals in a particular field, find someplace else to walk. 

While I completely understand a farmer's desire to NOT have people trudging through their land, I also think it's unrealistic to think that a walker will turn back every time them come to a field with animals in it.

My husband will spend hours studying the contours, landscape, and landmarks on OS maps in order to piece together footpaths to take us through gorgeous countryside. He certainly doesn't WANT to plan the route to go through a field with livestock, but many times it is inevitable. And many times it's completely unrealistic to imagine that he'd backtrack miles and miles just because there happens to be some animals in a field along the way.

... chances are you can find another route to wherever it is you want to walk.

Well, most of the time for us it's not about where we are trying to get to. It's much more about the actual walk!

I've not walked through any fields with cattle in but have done with sheep.  I think I'd be nervous with cattle or horses.

And many times it's completely unrealistic to imagine that he'd backtrack miles and miles just because there happens to be some animals in a field along the way...

Well, most of the time for us it's not about where we are trying to get to. It's much more about the actual walk!

Agreed on both points! 

Sevans, for some reason I haven't seen your posts for ages and I thought you'd gone.  So glad you're still around! 

For what it's worth, the commons around our town are all open to cattle.  People walk dogs, picnic, fly kites, play golf, kick footballs, and watch sunsets in fields shared with cows.  We've taken our two children up to the commons almost every weekend since we moved here without incident.  We're just cautious and give the cows a wide berth, especially when they have calves.  If we had to avoid cows we wouldn't be able to go to our beloved ice cream factory...which is obviously out of the question. 

I have to chime in here...

I've been chased FOUR times by cattle.  The first time was a bull in the fields with hefers.  We gave him a wide birth and he then left us alone. 

2nd time was in a huge field and the only way through (it was a path on the highly advertised Parish walk) was straight down the path in the middle.  There was a very big herd of young bullocks and once we started (we thought there was enough space between us) the bullocks started running.  It was very scary and we just made it to the style when they blew past us. 

the third, was on a BOAT where I have taken Guides through many times so I thought it was safe.  There was a herd of very aggressive cattle and they had no interest in having us there.  That was the first and last time we ever took our dog. (and last time I ever rambled).

the fourth, was on the route where we walked our dog.  The cattle are fenced and the walk ways are wild and is the main route for kids to walk to school.  Someone had left the gate open and the dog spooked the cattle (young males) who subsequently ran out the gate and chased my daughter - the dog chased some of the cattle back into the fenced fields and the rest took off into the neighbourhood. 

Don't tell me this is rare.  We also had a farmer in our 'hood who deliberately kept two huge bulls on the public path.  The farmers in our area were not nice and very often there were aggressive cattle where there should not have been. 

I've spent time in Canada on farms and around cattle and never have I come across such aggressive cattle as I did in the UK.   

Sevans, for some reason I haven't seen your posts for ages and I thought you'd gone.  So glad you're still around!  

Aw, thanks Tin!  

I've been chased FOUR times by cattle.  

  I really can't believe that! Is your family a cattle magnet, or did other people who lived near you have similarly bad luck?

I've spent time in Canada on farms and around cattle and never have I come across such aggressive cattle as I did in the UK.   

To use my own experience as an example, this may be down to the way the cattle are raised in North America vs. the UK.

My brother has a very large beef herd in Wisconsin.  Even though he's got a couple hundred animals, they're handled pretty regularly, are in and out of barns and small pastures for feeding.  They get a lot more supplements and shots and things like that.  As a result, most of them are very used to people, they're used to traffic noise, and they're even fairly used to dogs/coyotes and other animals around.

My husband has a much smaller herd in Scotland.  Same kind of cattle, but they're all grazed on open pasture, only one of them has ever seen the inside of a barn, and other than when they get bales put out for them in winter, or when there are annual health checks, they don't have much close contact with people, so they'd be much more likely to be skittish.

I stand by my earlier post.  The best thing to do is just avoid unfamiliar animals.  Obviously, that's not always an option.  But if you do enter a field with livestock, and they do chase after or crowd you, it's not fair to blame the animals, or the farmer.  That's their home, and their livlihood.  Enter at your own risk, and keep in mind that if you (or your dog) spook them enough that an animal is injured (i.e. running into fences, etc.) or property is damaged, in some circumstance you could be held liable for damages.