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someone posted this on a trail running FB group I follow. I think this can be pretty useful.
But I must say, I'd s##t myself if these cows were chasing me...
I've had a mixed group of about 50 cows and calfs running full tilt across a field towards me and the dog. We were about 200m away from them when one spotted us and started running, the rest joined in.
I let the dog off the lead and ended up climbing a steep bank to get away.
No way was I going to face them down.
Saw a bloke had been trampled in a nearby field a few days later - probably by the same herd 🙁
@wwaswas they just wanted to play, mate... 😉
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People don't believe me when I say that cows are the spawn of Satan. I've turned round a number of times, both on foot and on the bike, when I've found that I've got to go through a field of cows. I'll even avoid the commons in Cambridge when the cows are out in the summer. 🤬 evil things…
People don’t believe me when I say that cows are the spawn of Satan.
I believe you. They are great at covering up their crimes as well.
Just bored and want to play? If one ran up to me I'd kick it in the face, then find the farmer and blame him for not controlling them better.
And they leave their shit all over.
Spoiling the countryside for people, they are.
What a great video! He should get a job on Countryfile(phile).
I had a route home from my last job that went through 3 fields of cows. Never had a problem with them.
I live quite near some cow fields - remember watching these kids and their Jack Russell mucking about with the cows. Running amongst them and slapping them. One kid actually was ducking underneath the cows, between their legs. Amazing.. cows are cool if you know what you're doing.. or just don't care 😀
I made the mistake of crossing a field full of cows with a dog on a lead and thought they would just approach then back off as they do 99% of the time. Not this time, butted into a hedge then chucked in the air. I was barely able to make it back onto my hands and knees but luckily the dog had pissed off, the situation diffused a little and a friend was able to drag me out.
I still cross fields of cows, never had anything like it happen again but I am a lot more wary
I've been chased over a dry stone wall by too friendly cows!
It seems my preferred technique of talking to them when I ride through fields at night is not a good one.
I'll stop answering myself back in a cow voice too.
Top tip: If you're genuinely scared of cows. simply hold a short stick in one hand by your side. The cows will see this and retreat. you don't even need to wave it. just hold it outwards and look towards the cows and calmly continue on your way. They're conditioned from birth to react this way by the meat and dairy industry.
Quite like that guy. He reminded me of what Stuart Lee might be like if Stuart Lee were ever to venture outdoors.
Bullocks!
IME young males are curious, do love a good chase, and will scatter if you walk towards them. As they said, they just like a laugh.
I'd be interested if the behaviours were the same in a field with a different breed, sex and with some calves around. And I wouldn't be trying running at a load of Friesians with calf to stop them chasing me! I'd be over the fence, sans bike!
I spent a year in my twenties working with cattle. Lovely creatures and generally very calm. If you just mingled with them then they didn't pay you much attention although you might get licked to death. If you do need to get one to move then you can just nip behind it and give it’s tail a tug, that really freaks them out!
Just been talking to one of the neighbours who's a farmer. Apparently they don't allow cows with calves to be walked around the selling ring in Skipton market anymore for safety reasons.
Different breeds behave differently - belted Galloways are pretty chilled for example but Jerseys and Friesians are psycho! (some breedism there I think) Then you get some individuals that just don't like people or only certain people can go near them.
About ten years ago when I was still running I was downed by a cow just a couple of fields away from the house. Fortunately once I was on the deck she lost interest or felt she had made her point. No idea why she attacked me, she was between me and her calf and I was twenty metres away from her. She just took exception to me being there.
I assume it's one of a series of videos, since it makes no mention of cows with calf or what to do if you've got a dog with you, which is pretty much the biggest safety issue for members of the public encountering cows.
If you do need to get one to move then you can just nip behind it and give it’s tail a tug
This is totally true of horses too. Tell all your mates. 😉
A freind of mine was kicked unconscious by a cow, no warning, no reason, no nothing. Not checked but I read recently that cows kill more people in the UK each year than sharks worldwide.
I don't trust the buggers.
cows kill more people in the UK each year than sharks worldwide.
Only on land.
I read recently that cows kill more people in the UK each year than sharks worldwide.
Well, obviously. In what scenario would a cow even have the opportunity to kill a shark?
Oh, I got beated.
Oh, I'd say yours was better than mine.
I suppose you haven't seen that Sharknado documentary then
That’s a good Vid, despite being the hip and stylist urbanite I am today, I actually grew up on the edge of a dairy farm.
Cow’s are lovely things, but they’re both very big and heavy and inquisitive, like the vid says, if you don’t want to be chased not run (or ride). If have to pass through a herd dismount and walk.
oh and if you are scared of Cows, avoid the off-piste at Cwmcarn, they’ve got a flock of those big hairy massive horn ones there.
Never been comfortable with the buggers since I got surrounded while crossing a field with my canoe on a kayaking holiday at the very top of the Scottish Highlands as a 15 year old ..
I don't really like crossing a field solo on my bike ..and do so reluctantly while riding with mates..
I went looking for pun material and came up trumps with this one. Check the injury detail 😂
http://www.sharkattackdata.com/attack/australia/victoria/1956.02.10.R
Cows are fine till one of the ****ers stands on your foot!
The advice given in the op is spot on. It becomes tricky when dogs are involved. Cows often dislike dogs. Luckily my lurcher is terrified by anything bigger than her that doesnt run away so I let her off the lead and let her run round the outside of the field and meet me at the other side. She keeps as far away from them as possible.
Anyway, surely this thread is a waste of time. Everyone knows that the best way of crossing a field of cows is wearing your finest red boxer shorts, with your trousers round your ankles, blowing a vuvuzela and intermittently shouting “THE MILKY MAN WANTS A CUDDLE”.
Good vid that
Love cows which is handy as i spend time around them a fair bit. Im more nervous around horses...far more skittish & highly strung
Advice to us was be careful around cows with calf at foot and dairy bulls. Although steers can get a bit playful.
People don’t believe me when I say that cows are the spawn of Satan.
I believe you. They are great at covering up their crimes as well.
Me too! Always been wary of them and they don’t seem to like me. I don’t eat beef either, maybe they hate me because I won’t eat them. Horses can **** right off too. Basically any big, skittish prey animal is best avoided. Unpredictable and a bit mental is what most of them seem to be.
Cows I've never been bothered by but horses disturb me, they have a sinister air about them. I reckon they are secretly carnivores plotting to overthrow and chew us slowly to pieces with their massive teeth.
I would recommend being careful around any bull, if its a dairy bull dont go anywhere near it!
Cows are no problem , bloody horses scare me to death, i always stop and let them pass , unpredictable large teeth and long legs to kick and bite you.
Look into a cows eyes and you can see inteligence, and sometime a bit of something else, alsdo some cows have a weird intrest in cyclists as if they are reborn cyclists in a new body.
I would recommend being careful around any bull, if its a dairy bull dont go anywhere near it!
A dairy breed bull is unlikely to be in a field, basically the law says: "If the bull is 10 months old or less; or if the bull is older than 10 months old and is accompanied by cows or heifers but is not a recognised dairy breed - Ayrshire, British Fresian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) then they can be in the field."
I used to be pretty blase about cows, having never had any issues when taking a confident calm approach to crossing fields full of them, usually with a friendly “Afternoon, ladies” or suchlike. Then a couple of years ago I walked past a herd containing a young bullock who squared up to me, lowered his head and did that pawing the ground thing. 😳
I quietly sh@t myself and retreated over the nearest style as quickly as possible.
Look into a cows eyes and you can see inteligence
I see the abyss staring back.
We have lots of free-range cows locally on the heathland - Galloways and Highland - very docile and you can walk by with the dogs no trouble. I've even had to push them out the way when running or biking. Have had some close encounters elsewhere - Freisans in particular are often too energetic for my liking.
Was in Wales about a month ago trying to find a non-existent footpath when a herd of young heifers decided they'd like to come and say hello by running across the field at full pelt - I managed to leap over a gate into the next field.
Walking in Northumberland with dogs on a footpath when the cows decided to run towards us - let the dogs off and sprinted up the hill with them. My wife was less than impressed, even though they pretty well ignored her!
Cows are sneaky.
I was once crouched by a borehole taking a gas sample. Heard a noise by my left ear like close close. Big bastard bull stuck his nose in my ear.
Now i had maybe 25m of clear view in every direction and he managed to sneak up on me. Had to crouch there and wait. He lost interest.
But the mum with calf behind it stalked me back out the field.
Today it was a texel ram that showed me the way out pure malice in those eyes.
Look into a cows eyes and you can see a juicy steak,
FTFY
Just remember that cows, horses, pigs etc lead boring lives meaning that they're more than happy to amuse themselves by winding up anyone daft enough to set foot inside their domain. The more frightened you are, the more it unnerves them so you just need to stride confidently and remain unfazed.
Works for me!
Moove very quickly. 😉
Can i have my coat back?
if its a dairy bull
That's not milk.
Never been comfortable with the buggers since I got surrounded while crossing a field with my canoe on a kayaking holiday at the very top of the Scottish Highlands as a 15 year old ..
White water crofting?
“I got surrounded while crossing a field with my canoe”
Must’ve taken ages to cross the field, particularly if the grass was choppy. Unless of course it was a shark-infested field, in which case cows were the least of your worries?
Having been chased by a platoon of blood thirsty cows while doing an ecology survey at 2am in the pitch-black, I then asked the advice of our Welsh dairy farmer-turned ecologiston how to deal with cows. His advice was to stay calm, not run and also not look at them in the eye. Don’t ever eye-ball a cow. It won’t back down. No, it won’t back down.
Ok, this got very surreal... 😂
So the consensus is:
Walk queitly, don't make eye contact..... but take a 9mm just in case?
A little contradictory but I get the idea. I think.
Having been chased by a platoon of blood thirsty cows while doing an ecology
I remember doing some vegetation and soil sampling in a field with a Holstein Bull in it. Farmers advice was it'll probably ignore you, if it doesnt hit it with that thing. What thing, that thing there, what the soil auger, yep that'll do, as hard as you can on the head.
Basically a metal pole about a m long with a big lump on the end. I was bloody fast at my plant ID that day!
The bull ignored us.
The bull ignored us.
He was studying you. One day when you least expect it he’ll be there.
Interesting vid. Hope I remember the advice next time I have to sprint across a field , throw my bike over the gate and jump! To be fair they did have calves. 🙂
I enjoy passing by a field of cattle (on the other side of a fence), as it makes me feel famous as they just stop at the fence and stare.
I was once crouched by a borehole taking a gas sample
Not heard it called that before
Cattle are unpredictable. While this guy's information is generally sound. Sometimes they will act very different - certainly based on breed and circumstances.
As we were told in Yellowstone (and I know it's not quite the same) you are wandering into wildlife, it's you that's in the wrong place.
Bulls don't give a shit about you being there, cows with calves will gladly trample you. The bullocks in that video are just curious and shit scared of their own shadow.
They've got hollow tongues you know, suck your brains out through your ears. Oh yeah. Government know all about it but won't do anything.
I'm not a fan of going through fields with cows in. The last time I had to I made sure the exit didn't have cows between me and it before I opened the gate into the field.
I was once fishing the upper Severn, wading mid river when I heard a rumble, then all of a sudden another angler ran and jumped off the bank right where I was fishing...he was fully clothed. A few seconds afterwards a herd of young bullocks appeared looking down in to the river at said angler....
angler ran and jumped off the bank right where I was fishing
haha - that's been me before! The river seemed the only option and I wasn't prepared stand my ground.
Thread needs more cow pics.
Some cows on the Downs. One of them licked my hand 🙂
Cows I’ve never been bothered by but horses disturb me, they have a sinister air about them. I reckon they are secretly carnivores plotting to overthrow and chew us slowly to pieces with their massive teeth.
Don't read Equoid by Charles Stross then...
Walking through fields with pigs is, er, interesting and their girth is flippin' massive! They stood still but after I'd walked past they started squealing, what's that all about?
They stood still but after I’d walked past they started squealing, what’s that all about?
Have you seen Deliverance?
As above it depends on the breed, Friesians and Jersey’s I would avoid being in the same field, however, I work amongst Longhorns regularly, they look scary but they’re lovely, docile beasts that let you get right up to them, even with calves..... Even a 4’10” 70 year old isn’t scared of them
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Anyway, all cows seem docile compared to the Rhino’s, Buffalo, Zebra and Lions I’ve worked amongst
to the Rhino’s, Buffalo, Zebra and Lions I’ve worked amongst
The Sussex Weald is notoriously bad for walking.
They’ve got hollow tongues you know, suck your brains out through your ears.
This is true. BSE isn’t real, all those cows were burned as a lesson to their kin. The humans will stop your attempts to usurp us you bovine bastards.
Have you seen Deliverance?
No I haven't Drac. What happened?
One of them licked my hand
Did you tell this to the docs recently Dez? - BSE's now definitely on my list of things to rule out
Like that video, very clear and sensible.
What happened?
Put this into the Youtube search bar "squeal like a pig deliverance". I'm sure something will ahem, come up.
Mmmm, you're not convincing me Dez!
Mmm, pretty sure that's not the scene...
No, I've seen it once, ta, I don't need to see it again 😆
I like when you meet a curious herd ,you always get that one cow/bullock that pushes through from the back like it's going to have a go 🙂
My friend's Mother in Law was out dog walking and was trampled to death by cows. Nuff' said, never trusted them, too small a brain controlling too much momentum.
I'm with Gunz - I think some advice on walking with dogs when there's cows with young calfs (calves?) would be more appropriate and also indicate the level of risk. The original video gives the impression that if you say 'Boo' they'll run a mile which isn't always the case.
Bulls don’t give a shit about you being there
Not true, I've known some that would trample you just for lolz if you catch them in the wrong mood. Bulls of any breed are far far more unpredictable and potentially aggressive than cows with calfs.
I noticed reference to "Bridal Ways" at the end of the video!
As above it depends on the breed, Friesians and Jersey’s I would avoid being in the same field, however, I work amongst Longhorns regularly, they look scary but they’re lovely, docile beasts that let you get right up to them, even with calves….. Even a 4’10” 70 year old isn’t scared of them
Big dozy buggers.
Although I always think they're like the cow maffia. They could kill you, but have decided to let you live, whereas some breeds are like the little chavy scrote in your local hopping from one foot to the other asking do you want a fight.
The big one's wandered over to see what ll the fuss was about, although it does look like I'm about to be killed to death.
Never had a problem with them riding around the New Forest for 20 years but maybe they are the nice ones. The pigs were on the loose last week (out to eat the acorns so the horses don't eat them) and caught me out and ran right across in front of me.
I have had many more problems from deer when riding as they don't hear me coming on my very quiet bike and then panic and run straight across me.
“Never had a problem with them riding around the New Forest for 20 years but maybe they are the nice ones.”
Did they ride two-abreast and wave politely when you passed?
Did they ride two-abreast and wave politely when you passed?
Some did, others were more head down but still gave an acknowledging nod as they went by.
"it does look like I’m about to be killed to death"
Not sure what else happens after you have been killed?
Although you may come back as a cow