Went to a client the other day, a livestock auction mart. He was saying that they've had to increase the type of cattle handling equipment they use as the cattle are more aggressive than they used to be and so they try not to get in the stalls with them to seperate them out if they need to. He blames European breeds that are more aggressive. He handles cattles for a living and has no emotional bias either way so I think I'll take what he says as being pretty much the way it is.
I sometimes order beef when eating out just to get a bit of revenge for the times I've been pursued when going through fields.
But I suppose the irony there is that I'm supporting the beef industry and making it more likely I'll have to pass through fields of the things in the future.
I need to re-think that.
That's the thing with cows, not only an intimidating physical presence, but they play mind games with you too.Originally Posted by L.F.F.
Despite many cow 'moments' during my running, especially nowadays with Harry my trusty side-kick border collie, I love cows. By and large they are very peaceful animals who like their own company and chewing the cud together. For an animal that naturally can live for 20 odd years, lets not forget that most beef cattle don't make it a year and most dairy cows just 5 or 6 years, being perpetually pregnant and lactating for 4 years or so of that.
Its therefore not surprising that they feel a little pissed off every now and then
I'm not sure cows know how long they could live though, if only we left them in peace. Plus, they wouldn't naturally have all that grass to eat, they'd have to go and find their own dinner.
There's no such thing as a free lunch, as the saying goes...
funniest- but also slightly freeky was this summer in the Alps. A large caow with horns that had been cut off - presumably because it was known to use them in anger took a liking to my husband.
I got past OK but the cow 'stalked my husband for over 20 mins.
We shouted and waved arms to make it run away. no luck. Threw stones towards(but not at it and it just shrugged and took a more vertical line down, scross a rocky stream and up the other side. Eventually after over 2 miles it gave up the stalking and left us in peace. It was slightly wierd and when it was behind us rather bthan leading the way, just slightly uncomfotable, not knowing wha was going on behind you!
I got stalked by a pheasant once, whilst out riding a bike. It ran alongside, about four feet to the left, stopped when I did, set off again when I did, and kept looking at me as if to say "well? are we going on, or what?"
Weird, but admittedly not very scary. Or interesting, come to that...
Au contraire...very interesting.
I had exactly the same experience running through the Lingholm estate behind derwentwater two saturdays in a row - don't know if it was the same pheasant both times, we didn't get on speaking terms
Ditto, my wife and I by a heard of sheep down near Llyn Ogwen, until we stopped and walked slowly backwards to see how close we would get. Eventually they realized we were getting closer and scattered
I must be bored when writing rubbish like this.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote