Bull in field/public Right of Way: is it allowed?

[betty swollocks]

Came across this this morning:-

Is it lawful to put a bull in a field through which there is a Public Footpath?
Is it also lawful to try and prevent use of a Right of Way, by use of a sign like this, whether the bull is real or fictional? I didn't see one.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Ramblers say...

23. Can a farmer keep a bull in a field crossed by a public path?

A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation.
&
25. What is a misleading notice?

This is a notice calculated to deter you from using a public right of way, for example, a notice saying PRIVATE at the point where a path enters a park. Such notices should be reported immediately to the highway authority. They are illegal on paths shown on the definitive map (see Q3).

 

[Mr Phoebus]

whether the bull is real or fictional? I didn't see one.

Must be a load of bull then.

(someone had to do it)

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

It shouldn't be allowed to happen!!

....For the Bull's safety against the general public that is.


Actually, I have come face to face with some bulls in my time, and, although I do not know what the growth rate of bovines really is, I'd say that some must have been over 10 months old.

The last one I came across was a white one that was blocking my way along a public footpath next to a farm. I just stood still until it seemingly got bored and wandered off.

I don't know if that is what you are meant to do, but it worked for me.

 

[dellzeqq]

as Greg has it...but you are as much at risk from heifers or steers. If you're in a field with a herd of youngish cattle
1 get out
2 if they come toward you, do not attempt to run away
3 turn, face them, pick up a stick if you can, and make a big, big noise. Wave your arms about. Whack the one nearest to you with a stick. Continue to make a big noise.

one of the magicest moments of my days on the farm was looking out of the back window and seeing the neighbour's four year old in the next field surrounded by beef steers, two or three of them nudging her. I scrambled through the hedge (which was no fun) and walked toward them slowly. They let me through. I picked the kid up and started yelling in a very big way. My luck held.

 

[Linford]

My daughters pony had to have an xray on its leg. The farmer had put a herd into our field to graze it down as it was an 8 acre field with only 3 horses i it in the middle of summer (bad move). The pony had been doped to the eyeballs by the vet, it had mostly worn off but thepony still wasn't 100%. My daughter was leading the pony down the side of the field and the bull decided to charge them (we didn't think it was a problem as the pony had only been taken out about 3/4 hour before.

The pony didn't even register it, but it scared the bejesus out of my daughter who was about 12 at the time. I got the lunge whip out and got her to chase the bull around for a few minutes to show her that they will run when chased off, and because we had to keep our animals in the same space.. the worse by far are the young calfs as they don't respect the electric fences.

 

[Norm]

I used to love sitting in the middle of the herd, a very peaceful place to be.

However, I've also been chased by mums, twice, the second time the thing knocked itself silly (luckily) head-butting the wall that I'd just vaulted.

IMO, waving arms, making noise and using a chuffing big stick is very good advice.

 

[betty swollocks]

Thanks.
Will log this with local Rights of Way Officer.
Just wonder whether the sign's been put there to frighten people off.

I had a frightening experience walking a friend's dog along the Scottish bank of the River Tweed. Cows and bull charging towards us. We both made much noise and commotion and they all baulked at the last moment, allowing us to run away up and over a stone wall. I almost beat the dog.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

as Greg has it...but you are as much at risk from heifers or steers. If you're in a field with a herd of youngish cattle
1 get out
2 if they come toward you, do not attempt to run away

The one I mentioned did start walking towards me, but the main reason why I stayed still (relatively anyway) was becuase I didn't really have anywhere to go, and I wondered if they would be the same as a dog and chase you if you moved quickly anyway.

I was calculating what to do if it charged, but luckily as I say, it seemed to loose interest after a while.

3 turn, face them, pick up a stick if you can, and make a big, big noise. Wave your arms about. Whack the one nearest to you with a stick. Continue to make a big noise.

I'll need to remember that, thanks!

one of the magicest moments of my days on the farm was looking out of the back window and seeing the neighbour's four year old in the next field surrounded by beef steers, two or three of them nudging her. I scrambled through the hedge (which was no fun) and walked toward them slowly. They let me through. I picked the kid up and started yelling in a very big way. My luck held.

I bet the kid learned a good lesson that day!

 

[ColinJ]

25. What is a misleading notice?

This is a notice calculated to deter you from using a public right of way, for example, a notice saying PRIVATE at the point where a path enters a park.

This kind of thing, perhaps ...?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Actually, the cycle track between Dumbarton and Balloch (Loch Lomond) goes over an open field next the river, and there are often cows wandering about.

Never had any problems with them, but then, I don't know if I have ever seen any calfs there.

 

[lulubel]

The fields we walked through to get to town when we lived in Cornwall (public footpath) usually had cows and sometimes a bull in as well. Local people knew that if you ignored the bull, and just detoured round it if it was standing in the middle of the path, it would ignore you. Tourists didn't, however.

We could see the fields from our bedroom window, and I can remember having a good laugh when a group spotted the bull, stood there pointing for a bit, then ran away and climbed through the nearest hedge ... the bull not having moved the whole time. It seemed pretty laid back. I saw one group that did get chased, but they had a loose dog that was bothering the cows, so I have to say they probably deserved it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've been offed by a mummy cow when cycling off road. At the time I didn't realise how lucky I was that my shouting at her in annoyance discouraged her from following through.

Why don't they teach this sort of thing in school, on DofE courses, etc.?

 

[rich p]

I went mano a mano, so to speak, with a ram. Picture available on request

The ram won.

 

[caimg]

I used to love sitting in the middle of the herd, a very peaceful place to be.

However, I've also been chased by mums, twice, the second time the thing knocked itself silly (luckily) head-butting the wall that I'd just vaulted.

IMO, waving arms, making noise and using a chuffing big stick is very good advice.

I totally read this as mums in terms of human mothers. Love the idea of using a big stick, waving my arms and making noise to ward off herds of mothers with their kids.