Aggressive Cows (footnote)

Quoted message said:

Deep
into a walk on a clearly marked footpath we emerged into a field which had
been empty the previous day, but which now held a dairy bull with some
cows and calves (all Jerseys I think, but I am no expert).

If you can't identify the breed with certainty, how can you be so certain it
was a "dairy bull"?

John
---
John Gardner
Caving Routes in the Northern Pennines: http://braemoor.co.uk/cavingtrip
A Walking Guide to Chartreuse: http://braemoor.co.uk/chartreuse

John Gardner said:

Quoted message said:

Deep
into a walk on a clearly marked footpath we emerged into a field which
had been empty the previous day, but which now held a dairy bull with
some cows and calves (all Jerseys I think, but I am no expert).

If you can't identify the breed with certainty, how can you be so
certain it was a "dairy bull"?

Well I guess I did not mean to sound *so* certain, and sorry if I did.

saki

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 08:15:01 +0100, Malcolm wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Certainly the Jersey bull is regarded as less trustworthy than some
other breeds, but as you don't actually sound very certain which breed
you encountered, do you really think you should report the farmer? And
how did you identify it as a "dairy" bull? Was someone milking it? :-)

As to the breed, 'photos on the web do seem to confirm it was a Jersey -
colour, size, conformation - but for all I know there may exist some
confusingly similar breed.

As to reporting the farmer, I have no intention, but if (as I have read),
no bull should ever be treated as "tame", regardless of his track record,
then people were certainly put at risk in a field which lies in the middle
of a longish path with no clear alternative at that point. The risk seems
to me greater because you enter through a hedge and cannot really see what
is in the field until you have arrived there.

Quoted message said:

Other advice which has was certainly given here in the earlier thread is
not to get between cows and their calves, yet you say you went "between
the calves and their mums". Hmm.

I should have made it clearer that the calves were (mostly), on one side
of the path and their mothers on the other. It was not a matter of
bravado or tempting fate - just that there was no way to reach the style
without passing between them.

saki

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 09:01:52 +0100, saki <[email hidden]> wrote:

| On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 08:15:01 +0100, Malcolm wrote:
|
| <snip>
| >>
| > Certainly the Jersey bull is regarded as less trustworthy than some
| > other breeds, but as you don't actually sound very certain which breed
| > you encountered, do you really think you should report the farmer? And
| > how did you identify it as a "dairy" bull? Was someone milking it? :-)
|
| As to the breed, 'photos on the web do seem to confirm it was a Jersey -
| colour, size, conformation - but for all I know there may exist some
| confusingly similar breed.
|
| As to reporting the farmer, I have no intention, but if (as I have read),
| no bull should ever be treated as "tame", regardless of his track record,
| then people were certainly put at risk in a field which lies in the middle
| of a longish path with no clear alternative at that point. The risk seems
| to me greater because you enter through a hedge and cannot really see what
| is in the field until you have arrived there.
|
| > Other advice which has was certainly given here in the earlier thread is
| > not to get between cows and their calves, yet you say you went "between
| > the calves and their mums". Hmm.
|
| I should have made it clearer that the calves were (mostly), on one side
| of the path and their mothers on the other. It was not a matter of
| bravado or tempting fate - just that there was no way to reach the style
| without passing between them.

In this case I would walk round the edge of the field, with or without a
stick.

Dave F

saki <[email hidden]> writes
snip

Quoted message said:

I should have made it clearer that the calves were (mostly), on one side
of the path and their mothers on the other. It was not a matter of
bravado or tempting fate - just that there was no way to reach the style
without passing between them.

saki

Tis always better to verge on the case of caution.
In the latter instance i would deviate from the path and go round the
cattle.
I would not be tempted to walk between the calves and their mothers.
As to the bull i would also keep a weather eye on his demeanour at all
times and have an exit strategy.
So far in the years i have spent walking I have had no bother from
cattle- bulls, heifers etc. NOW a group of pigs in a field with a path
through that was a completely different story many years ago as my
backside testified after i had to vault over a fence to avoid a charging
porcine. Twas the barb wire that made its mark.

ted said:

saki <[email hidden]> writes
snip

Quoted message said:

I should have made it clearer that the calves were (mostly), on one side
of the path and their mothers on the other. It was not a matter of
bravado or tempting fate - just that there was no way to reach the style
without passing between them.

saki

Tis always better to verge on the case of caution. In the latter
instance i would deviate from the path and go round the cattle.
I would not be tempted to walk between the calves and their mothers.

Our problem was that to do as you suggest would have taken us deeper into
the field, albeit further away from the bull, but with nowhere to exit if
he charged.

Quoted message said:

As to the bull i would also keep a weather eye on his demeanour at all
times and have an exit strategy.

As I said in the original post, we did hang around in the field close to
our entry point, for several minutes before deciding to cross. I moved
around a lot at this stage to try and ensure that the bull had indeed seen
us and to give him a chance to make his displeasure clear whilst we could
easily get out the way we had come in. I am sure he saw us, but simply
did not react in any way at all. As we crossed I kept him in view, but
did not want to look at him very directly in case he regarded that as
hostile. He was only about 15 - 20 feet from our exit style at all times.

I accept it may have been foolhardy to cross at all - having read more now
perhaps I would not do so next time - but the alternative was a long walk
back to our starting point and plan another walk. I do appreciate that
that is better than being hurt.

saki

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 10:20:44 +0100, saki <[email hidden]> wrote:

| I accept it may have been foolhardy to cross at all

No the risk to walkers from bulls are small.
Has anyone here beeen injured by a bull in a field?

Dave F

Dave Fawthrop <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 10:20:44 +0100, saki <[email hidden]> wrote:

| I accept it may have been foolhardy to cross at all

No the risk to walkers from bulls are small.
Has anyone here beeen injured by a bull in a field?

...and lived to tell the tale? ;-)
--
Gordon

The message <[email hidden]>
from ted <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Tis always better to verge on the case of caution.

The field next to our house is a stock rearing field for Stirks that
eventually get sold-on to become beef. They always come charging up to
the fence to investigate whenever we enter the garden but being
castrated, they are merely inquisitive and not bad tempered. However,
when I have cause to enter the field to clip the hedges or fix the
electric fence I always ensure that they are at the opposite end of the
field. They may mean no harm but a herd of inquisitive stirks can give
you a powerful crushing when the crowd around to look at you!

Always assume cattle to be dangerous, take steps to avoid direct contact
with them and you will come to no harm from them.

--
Cheers,
Compo

The message <[email hidden]>
from Dave Fawthrop <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone here beeen injured by a bull in a field?

Quoted message said:

Dave F

Has anyone here entered a field when the bull has been put in to service
the cows? Me thinks the bull would be a trifle defensive of those cows
and thus a little dangerous at close quarters.

--
Cheers,
Compo

The message <[email hidden]>
from Paul Simonite <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone here entered a field when the bull has been put in to service
the cows? Me thinks the bull would be a trifle defensive of those cows
and thus a little dangerous at close quarters.

I don't see why that should be any different to having a bull running
with a herd normally. I frequently pass through my neighbours suckler
herd and while I keep a weather eye on the bull I don't usually go far
out of my way to avoid him and the cows I expect to get out of my way.
The calves will scamper off before I get anyway near close.

--
Roger
Looking North over the Aire Valley (and Marley Gasworks) to Rombolds Moor
Top Posters killfiled on sight

The recent Expedition 15, I went off on my own on the last day and ended up
in a field with Cows and Bulls, grid ref: aprox 653718 near Abergwyngregyn.
There was no other alternative but to walk straight through them.

I walk slowly and with as little noise as possible to prevent them being
scared - them scared! It was me that was scared. Maybe my humming of a
Jerusalem soothed them! All they did was watch me pass by.

I remember years ago Bulls mounting cows on a public road in the Lake
District many years ago, not sure if someone had left the gate open or what,
but I had to route around them. For those interested, I think (but not too
sure) it was at grid: 465053.

Jhimmy.

On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 12:05:29 +0100, Paul Simonite
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| The message <[email hidden]>
| from Dave Fawthrop <[email hidden]> contains these words:
|
| > Has anyone here beeen injured by a bull in a field?
|
| > Dave F
|
|
| Has anyone here entered a field when the bull has been put in to service
| the cows? Me thinks the bull would be a trifle defensive of those cows
| and thus a little dangerous at close quarters.

Yes! no problems.

Dave F

On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 15:24:19 +0100, Malcolm <[email hidden]>
wrote:

| Bulls (plural) again?

Viewed from behind they have huge balls.
Also thick neck, and sometimes a ring in the nose,
and a patch of hair in the middle of the stomach (see also bullocks).

| It is also *very* usual for heifers

have small udders

| and bullocks,

No balls, and a patch of hair in the middle of the stomach

| i.e. immature females and males, to mount each other pretty
| indiscriminately, including female on female, male on male. Nothing
| happens of course, but I guess they are getting in some practice, or at
| least the males are! Once again, I would ask about the certainty of your
| identification.

Dave F

You're not a school teacher by any chance, Malcolm?

Bulls, plural or whatever, one of these was dirty great big bugger and I
wasn't going to have a butchers of their knackers! I wanted out and fast.

Jhimmy.

"Malcolm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Jhimmy
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

The recent Expedition 15, I went off on my own on the last day and ended

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in a field with Cows and Bulls, grid ref: aprox 653718 near

Abergwyngregyn.

Quoted message said:

Bulls (plural) in a field with cows is not impossible, but it is
certainly unusual. In my not so limited experience, two bulls with the
same herd of cows usually leads to them fighting each other for the
spoils! How certain were you of your identification?

Quoted message said:

There was no other alternative but to walk straight through them.

I walk slowly and with as little noise as possible to prevent them being
scared - them scared! It was me that was scared. Maybe my humming of a
Jerusalem soothed them! All they did was watch me pass by.

I remember years ago Bulls mounting cows on a public road in the Lake
District many years ago

Bulls (plural) again? It is also *very* usual for heifers and bullocks,
i.e. immature females and males, to mount each other pretty
indiscriminately, including female on female, male on male. Nothing
happens of course, but I guess they are getting in some practice, or at
least the males are! Once again, I would ask about the certainty of your
identification.

--
Malcolm

Jhimmy <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

You're not a school teacher by any chance, Malcolm?

Bulls, plural or whatever, one of these was dirty great big bugger and I
wasn't going to have a butchers of their knackers! I wanted out and fast.

Wussie! A certain female friend of mine, raised in the country, told
me that if you stroke a bull's scrotum[1] it feels like the finest
velvet!

[1] Done when the bull was penned, and at the instigation of the village
lads........
--
Gordon

In article <[email hidden]>, saki
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

As to the breed, 'photos on the web do seem to confirm it was a Jersey -
colour, size, conformation - but for all I know there may exist some
confusingly similar breed.

Honey coloured, biggish ears and lovely long eyelashes :-)
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, Gordon
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Wussie! A certain female friend of mine, raised in the country, told
me that if you stroke a bull's scrotum[1] it feels like the finest
velvet!

[1] Done when the bull was penned, and at the instigation of the village
lads........

Pervert :-)
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

W. D. Grey <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, saki
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

As to the breed, 'photos on the web do seem to confirm it was a Jersey -
colour, size, conformation - but for all I know there may exist some
confusingly similar breed.

Honey coloured, biggish ears and lovely long eyelashes :-)

And they love horse-chestnut shells.

That deserves an explanation. On a walk in the Y.Dales I playfully
threw a stick and brought down some 'conkers', taking a few home for
neighbours' kids.

As I prised them out of the shells, a small herd of Jerseys which were a
few yards away, wandered up to us and scoffed the discarded shells.
--
Gordon