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Had a good run yesterday i went to Cilcain around Moel Arthur & Moel Famau.But on crossing a field a bloody heard of cows was stood right by the stile and every time we went near them (about 50 metres) the bloody things kept coming over towards us.Didnt do anything daft like charge towards em just kept quite and walked over.Whats the best way to negotiate these giant walking steaks ? we just turned round and jumped across farmers field.
Jump over the fence and go a different way.Quote:
Originally Posted by andygib1982
Ah, so you did! So... err... carry on old chap :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by andygib1982
They are just curious, nothing else. Just walk around the herd instead of taking a direct route and you'll be fine.
Incase you're in a speed session, then make sure you wear a red shirt ;-)
Stear clear of em, especially if they have calves!
They have a habit of hanging around stiles being nosey. Generally a bit of arm waving and shouting will move them along, but they can get pushy if they think you're after a calf.
I think there may be more to it than just 'curiosity':Quote:
Originally Posted by Hurry Up
http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Cow-a...-to.5254935.jp
http://www.lodders.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=241
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Far...l/article.html
Avoid the field if possible, I would rather deal with an irate farmer than thirty charging cows! If you have to walk/run through a field with cows (especially if they have calves) I always let them know I am coming with a few loud calls and if they start to move towards me I clap several times and wave my hands until they turn away. If they don't, leap any wall/fence etc & leg it.
Don't ever take a dog near cows with calves!!!!
there wasnt any calfs around thankfully.They had mence in there eyes,anyone ever seen the Cravendale milk adverts....
Dogs are the trigger in a lot of cases. But it may also be that cows don't get to see that many people these days. They can certainly smell fear or uncertainty. I've only had one iffy episode last summer when about a dozen had me up against a riverbank, considering whether a paddle might be in order, but eventually I decided to call their bluff.
They're alright unless they're in a bad moood.
Haven't herd that one before!
Pull the udder one.
I normally just let the dog off the lead, keep him close and run through the field at normal speed. If any get close I wave my arms a lot and shout at them. Trying to slap them on the face or backside seems to work well too. It seems from reading the news reports that this is a bit of a cavalier approach. Perhaps I've just been lucky with the cows I've encountered. Is it worse with meat or dairy cows?
Near to Wincle a few years ago, a whole herd went feral and was attacking walkers and dogs. In the end they got police marksmen to shoot the lot of them!! (the cows, not the walkers)
I've met countless troublesome young bullocks when i'm fishing, they play a psychological game of who's harder than who and try to get you backing down and running. The only thing to do is to stand your ground and make lots of noise, sudden charges at them waving your arms are often enough to get the message accross. If you back down you're screwed. I've been charged through woods before by the same group on the same farm all for not taking the time to square up and make then back up first before walking off.
Females are very easy to deal with, with or without calves. Don't be aggressive and just try to usher them on with friendly but firm commands, sometimes they'll move on of their own accord once they've understood you're not a threat; this is my tact with big bulls near stiles, just wait for them to get comfortable with you but always identify an escape route.
IMHO horses are far worse than cows.
Now then, let's not milk it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grouse
Rubbish thread, load of bullocks (sorry...) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo
Having grown up on a farm I've never been too bothered by cows. Until recently ...
Last year I was pushed to the ground by a cow who was rather aggressively defending her calf - she actually went out of her way to attack me - fortunately once I was on the ground she backed off. See this thread - http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...ntful-run-cows
A few weeks ago I was checking our water supply tank in the field behind the house when one of the young heifers decided to push me around. I ended up against the barbed wire by the wall and received (still have) lacerations to my abdomen - severe enough to get medical attention anyway. I take a stick with me now and thwack any of them across the nose that come too close!
I too have a total fear of cows and coming across a field of them on a run for me is my worst nightmare - last night my training route went through 3 fields of cows with calves and each field had a HUGE bull, I then had to make lengthy detours. I am told they can detect fear so this is why I never risk cutting through the middle of a herd without an exit strategy, the fear is palpable!
Just stare at the one if front, approach purposefully, then reach out to stroke it, then they will usually run away. They're always scared of me, though I am pretty big.
its just the unpredictable nature of them i dont like,when something weighs a ton and there are 10-15 of em and you dont know what there gonna do thats when a tactical retreat is in order
Hey, show no fear.
Just run at it.
That can't be sensible, can it?
The b*stard's about to run at me!
Well, he's randy!
Yes, I know he is!
Wants to get down there
and have sex with those cows.
Shut up!
Run at it, shouting!
Do as he says, start shouting.
He won't gore you.
A coward you are, Withnail!
An expert on bulls
you are not!
and I always thought he said 'balls'!Quote:
Originally Posted by Quosh
Not just runners I'm afraid. A farming friend owns a beef herd and he was kicked by a cow, result was some possible broken ribs
Mince in their eyes?Quote:
Originally Posted by andygib1982
I'm not buying cheap burgers again!
Thats an offal jokeQuote:
Originally Posted by marty mcfly
utter tripeQuote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Oh come on - it's butter than that.Quote:
Originally Posted by andygib1982
It kidney be worse...Quote:
Originally Posted by marty mcfly
Most amooooosing
I likes cows. :)
I think reading this thread might have been a big mi'steak! :wink:
so do i medium rareQuote:
Originally Posted by OneHillWonder
I'm not advocating anyone else take this approach, the safest way is obviously to use a different route.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I got chased by a herd last week and had to make an undignified retreat under a fence, still have the cuts to show for it. Had the dog with me though so I had made sure that I followed the fence line round the field. Dog wasn't fazed.
I'll back Mr B up and second horses being much worse!
As...cant remember...said, if they come too close I'll tell them to "F&CK OFF" loudly and lamp um' one!
We were out walking as a family with our two dogs...one being a puppy which im very protective over...and my sister who im also protective over.
I know you should but I'd never let my dogs go if the cows charge, Id rather put myself first and trry and whack um one. I made sure my sister was ahead of me and I kept my eyes on the cows.
Im not scared of them, and I occasioanlly perposly go into fields with cows just to let them crowd round me....but you cant drop your gaurd for a second!
Another Death!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-11751079
Up until a couple of years ago I would have said that anyone who was attacked by a cow it must have been something that were doing. I've been walking, running and biking in the countryside since I was a kid and never had a problem.
Then last year we were attacked by herd of cows and I am of a different opinion.
Yes we had a dog but he was right next to us on a short leash. Yes there were some young cows but not what I would call calves, they were nearly fully grown. The field was really small with a path runnning diagonally across it and the field was full of cows and a bull (but I'm not worried about a bull with cows about)
But literally the moment we stepped into the field they charged at us and surrounded my husband. I have never seen anything like it. He couldn't let go of the dog as they would have had to run over him to get to the dog and the chances are the dog would have stayed behind my husband for protection anyway (big wuss). He was shouting at them and flapping his arms but they were just pushing and pushing. I didn't think he would get out alive and I'm not being melodramatic. The aggression they were showing was unbelievable. I was lucky enough to be able to jump a wall as they were after my hubby who had the dog.
I did research and there has been about 58 deaths from cows in the last 5 years. That to me is not insignificant. That is farmers, vets, walkers with dogs, walkers without dogs, cyclists etc. That is just deaths then there are huge amount of injuries and absolutely no statistics on aggressive events like we went through. There is also apparently a European breed of cows over here that is far more aggressive than our usual breeds over here.
I contacted loads of organisations and was basically told that I should have altered my behaviour. They would not listen to the fact that the cows charged us the moment we stepped in the field.
It has made me really quite nervous of cows and ruined our enjoyment out in the countryside whenever we see a herd of cows. I'm always checking to make sure they are only dairy cows (which generally are not aggressive). Otherwise we make huge detours.
I think where there is a right of way through a field or out in the moors and the cows have young or there are bullocks then they should have to put up electric fencing to protect walkers etc. When we had a place over in Switzerland that's what they did in the mountains during summer grazing , the cows were encircled by electric fencing.
I generally think if you keep your wits about you and always have a handy escape route ready then cows aren't a big problem. A little wariness is a good thing, being too confident may mean you take unnecessary risks. I've been charged by cows a few times but I've always been a bit freaked out by them so I tend to keep a decent distance and in each case I've jumped a fence/wall whatever and run in the field parallel to where I was heading anyway. I'm more nervous when I'm with my 2 1/2 year old son as I know I have a good turn of speed but carrying an unpredictable toddler I'm not as confident.
I wouldn't enter a field with cows too close to the gate, and if I feel at all threatened or they run towards me. I'm gone
I am terrified of them!! I'm sure they can smell the fear. Trouble is I'm wont take my eyes off them so I'm not watching where I'm putting my feet. Once fell down a bank and straight into Coniston Water another time I fell in a bloody great hole!! That was scary as I though they would charge when I was down. The farmer was leaning on the gate just looking at me and shaking his head.
Like the post above I hear all the time "they wont hurt you just walk through them" .................... I have been unfortunate enough to be working on the occasions that 3 casualties have come into our hospital after being attacked by cows. Sadly none of those three got up to us in Theatre.
I would never in a million years walk straight through the centre of a field of cows. I would rather (and have) take a 1 hour detour :-O
Geese can be scary sods too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I've never head of anyone being killed by them
How can horses be worse than cows? Horses are flight animals, generally scared of everything, and the only way they can damage you is if you're stood right behind one. So don't stand behind one and you're fine.
I too am terrified of cows, they are so unpredictable and unlike horses seem to relish attacking.