Cows bloody cows

Received this from Farmer, Runner,Cyclist John Carr....
Cows. They are primarily scared of wolves and all other animals that prey on cattle. Dairy cattle are very friendly, how ever the bulls are not. Black and white and jersey bulls are very playful/deadly. Never be inbetween the line of sight of a bull and his cows. Beef cattle can still be as aggressive but the majority of the time they are calm, friendly beasts. However never do you turn your back on a bull within 100m of them. On a whole they are curious of you. If you have a dog then that is the target of their threat. Don't what ever you do if cornered by a cow hold on to your dog they will trample you and the dog , except they dog will run off and you get mauled.

I have been around cows most of my life. My own herd and most other cattle I meet have no issue with me, if anything they pretty much all want to come over and lick me. Thats because they are slightly autistic and very sensitive, they can smell your soul , eye sight is very good and hearing as good as a dog. They can sense your mood. If I'm Pissed off , excited or erratic the ears go up and they are on red alert. if I'm happy and calm they will be very playful and inquisitive. Farming and life in general can be depressing if you let it . Iv had days where I have had a teary moment and couple of cows have shown emotions of sympathy, gone out of their way to walk over and cheer me up.

If your out in the fells, they will primarily be very social, they don't see many folk up there remember. 'Hello who's this on our patch ' . All they see is excited, heart rate pumping, running, arms moving in pendulum motion, shouting at your dog or running buddy.That is going to attract them even more. If you have no dog with you and they are in your direct line just take a wide berth slow down enjoy the beauty and scenery for a bit, have a drink , steadily walk ,no sudden movements, and be calm, speak softly, take some pics , they are very curious of cameras. If there's a bull don't panic.show no fear a calmly walk away from them. You will most likely be in a field if there's a bull so a gate never too far away. Rarely will a farmer Put a bull on open land. They will almost likely be heifers (young females) , if you run all they will do is think your playing. I do this to gather in our heifers at home. You cant drive them from the rear, instead walk to them , let them circle and check you out then walk to the gateway. They follow me where ever I want to take them.

Is if you have a dog you need to be looking ahead spotting the cows and getting it on a lead early doors. Take a very wide berth and don't show any fear.

The worse thing you can do is be cornered. It shouldn't happen if your aware of not doing it. but worse case scenario you have you stand tall and dominate flick yours hands at face or if you have a stick smack them on the nose and established pecking order. A couple bulls have lowered their head at me and you just have to discipline them, then walk off calmly, never showing your back until they drop eye contact. John Ironfarmer Carr

I've literally had dozens of run ins with cows but they're fine if you just look to take a wide berth if you can (especially with a dog) and try not to excite them. In fact I absolutely love cows, and they're usually more than happy to go about their normal cowey business when you're passing through their field, only perhaps being 'unpredictable' no more than 10% of the time :).

A fell race going through a field with cows in, especially if its a small field, is probably asking for trouble as the cows will get all excited and fell runners, when racing, won't want to deviate from the fastest line or slow to a walk regardless of the cattle. Cows also seem at their most skittish at this time of year, when they've only recently been put out in the fields after maybe over wintering in barns

Splitting cows from their calves isn't the most sensible thing either. If cows run at you, in my experience, running away is not the best solution. Instead turning and facing them, holding up your arms and loudly shouting HEY!!! seems to get them to slow down or deviate their line. Mind you I'll only get that wrong the once :)

As for bulls in fields, they are usually very placid as they can only be placed in fields with public access when they're part of a big family herd. Bulls in fields on their own or bull only fields are another matter but, if you ever find yourself in such a field, then you are probably trespassing anyway and completely merit your fate :)

I get kind of irritated by runners and walkers inferring fault of the farmer when this sort of incident happens. Its farmers themselves by the way who have the highest incidence of death by cow in the UK

Did the farmer know about the race? Did the RO know about the cattle in the field?

" Its farmers themselves by the way who have the highest incidence of death by cow in the UK ..."


They do of course have a higher level of exposure than anyone else, but it does show that even those who are very experienced in cattle behaviour can get it wrong at times.

I'll put this on the race thread too. Anyone running leg 5 of the Calderdale Way Relay should be aware that there is a herd of cattle with a bull in the fields between Hunter Hill and Stod Fold. I'm told that he is fine when with his girlfriends but, I have to confess, I'm wary of running through there myself.

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Originally Posted by Mike T

Did the farmer know about the race? Did the RO know about the cattle in the field?

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I'm a Totley member but didn't race on the night, nor have I anything to do with the race in any way, shape or from, nor am I acting for TAC. I say this as I don't want any inferences made.

The question from Mike T is definitely relevant however it might be prudent for this forum to not be the ones to analyse or post-mortem the events. The only reason I ask this, in no way representing TAC, is that I've seen it on other forums (climbing & caving), where claims, statements, half-truths are made in good faith on threads, and they suddenly become quotes in the media, taken out of context and with the aim to back up or refute a point.

Incidents like this are news on some level and it wouldn't surprise me that people follow these threads who aren't who they appear - I know of two runner journalists.

Thanks

Stuart

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Originally Posted by caver68

post-mortem

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I hope it's not that bad. Speedy recovery Simon. :)

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Originally Posted by caver68

I'm a Totley member...

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Near-death cattle stampede - the inside story

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Simon's back home, feeling "a little bit sore".

Eight metal plates holding everything together. He'll be right as rain before we know it.

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Originally Posted by GeoffB

Simon's back home, feeling "a little bit sore".

Eight metal plates holding everything together. He'll be right as rain before we know it.

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Great to hear that, that's for the update Geoff.

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Originally Posted by sportsunday

...they can smell your soul...

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I wasn't scared of cows before, but I am now... :eek: