General Chat

i may be speaking out of turn here
i know i live in a town
but i have been brought up to know youd respect farm animals,

a lady and her friend in wales were walking thier dogs through a field of cattle, not on leads (this is advised thru cattle apparently) the lady wasnt nervous round cows as she had fed some locally to her home when they were without water,
however she found her self surrounded by them as they curiously moved round her to investigate her and her pet, and friend,
she fell over and was trampled , died as her friend was unable to get to her either to help her
why would you walk a pet , which is bound to unnerve them thru their field

lol joan
i know it seems to be just us lately

i been up showered and got dressed too inbetween chatting,
i really need to dry my hair in a min, with this cough i got, my mam be looknig down on me shouting "youll catch pneumonia with your hair wet there"

im a townie joan always have been but dad has had friends over the years with farms, and dad worked on farms when he was young so he always made sure me and my brother knew how you behave in these places,
always shut gates behind you, dont go in a field where there are animals lightly to come round you like that,
and always respect them ,
we have always had dogs too, but wouldnt let one of um walk round a farm or field like that
mad in it,

I live near Pagham Harbour.Not only do visitors think it fine to walk their dogs through fields of cattle but they also let their children run free around the harbour.

One lad was quite rude to the interfering old git who tried to stop him walking across the mud.Had he been stuck there with an incoming spring tide he may well have welcomed any interferance he could get!

I wont cross a field if there are cows, especially if they have calves. Did walk through cows on the cliff top in Dorset though, they were right next to our apartment and they ignored everyone, even those with dogs.

Apparently it is,or was illegal to keep a dairy bull in a field with a footpath running through it but not a beef bull.

Bullocks are usually gentle and scared but very nosy and might form a circle to get a better look at you.If you stamp your foot they generally remember they have something far more interesting to look at over there.

I was always told the most dangerous animal was a cow with a calf at foot as she will charge with her eyes open while a bull closes his.Probably rural urban myth!

Just to add my little bit.

Why do landowners insist on putting cows in fields where there are public footpaths is it a deliberate ploy to stop the general public walking on these footpaths.

My parents like to walk but my mum won't take the dog where there are cows but if they are walking in the country and can't follow the path it spoils the walk.

I know when I was younger and used to cross a field with cows in regularly to get to my friends I used to pedal like mad to get across before they had time to spot me. Again this was on a public footpath.

Lol at blonde
that linctus sounds lush
last time i had brandy tho was when i was a little un and snuck into the cupboard at xmas apparently, few sips before mam caught me and i was quite happy, lol

i been taking cough medicine, but noticed it wen outa date in may, opps,
gott some new benylin here i be taking that now instead, along with antibiotics,
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animals with babies no way would i go in field with,
that was another warning dad used to say,
you go near a calf , lamb or pony and the mam gona come after you,

Ann them dorset calves are so pleased with themselves at having such lovely home they too chilled to bother by sounds of it, lol

I also used to live very near to a farmer
and i used to go into his field and pick the blackberrys..from the hedge row ....well one day i went there and the cows were in the field right over the other side so i carried on picking the blackberrys but when i turned round there were walking towards me ....i got out of there very quickly .
i also at the time had a dog but no way would i take my dog into a fiel d with animals in it .
Hazelx

Hi All,
Just to add my pennys worth!!
we have cattle of our own so feel I am able to intelligently comment!!

Large animals, whatever they are, can be dangerous.
usually if you come across a field of cattle they are interested more than anything and if you clap you hands and say 'shoo' they will go away. however a cow with calf at foot is an entirley different beast and will even go for its owner in extreme cases.
walking a dog through a field of livestock is a bad idea at any time, our dog lost its tail a couple of years ago when it went in the field with my horses. it was a dog they see everyday and it wasnt done in spite but in play.
as for suggesting that farmers delibratley put cattle in fields where there are public rights of way- what a load of rubbish! a farmer will decide at the beggining of the year how he is going to rotate his livestock to get the most grazing for his animals, the best natural shelter in the wettest/hottest months, which fields should be saved for hay/silage etc
my general advise to people would be.....
be alert when walking through fields with any kind of livestock
keep dogs on leads
if cows do chase you and you have a dog with you let the dog go, it will find a safe way out of danger and it will stop you being trampled.

Please enjoy our beautiful countryside BUT remember that you are coming in to close contact with someones livelihood and so remember the countryside code!!!

Julia (In Cambs)

Julia, how I agree with you! Having lived for years in a house which was in a field with my front door open to the field, we were used to finding sheep and cattle at the door, which was avery strong one. our dogs were walked in fields with stock, always on a lead. Never get between a cow and its calf, or a bull and his cows. My own cow would stop and lick our dogs and cats. Cattl e will almost always crowd around a stranger because they are very nosy. Sometimes the farmer is late with the feed, and if you are carrying a bag they live in hopes! A good slap on the haunch and aGet on there will move them.