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The national press seems to be trying to put the wind well and truly up us again. It is the noble cow this time. A few people have been injured and one or two killed by coming into contact with an animal several times the weight of us humans. I fear that not only will it make the uniformed even more paranoid but may well add to the bureaucratic burden of the farming community unnecessarily. Coming from a long line of farmers and having spent the first 33years of my life on the farm here are a few truths.
A cow, and to some extent a bull, is generally a very benign animal, but because of its weight and strength you do not insist on your right of way. The number of townspeople has increased relative to their country cousins and many do not understand the ways of the countryside. It is true that some cows will defend their young calf; many couldn't care less but there is no way of knowing which is which, so leave it alone unless you know what you are doing, even farmers have come to grief. Pet dogs can run faster than their owners and are more manoeuvrable so leave them to it. Don't turn your back on a cow or bull even if it looks sleepy; famous stockmen have been killed by bulls that were hand-raised on a bottle, and a frisky cow, whilst not meaning any harm, can be dangerous through being clumsy. Bulls are now a common sight in fields with a footpath, but are of selected breeds that carry low risk of trouble. Many herd animals sense fear or panic and a stampede caused by a dog isn't where you want to be, so get away until it cools down. A few people in a tight group are more intimidating to a cow than a single person and it is unlikely to tackle them. These animals have always been there, it is the public who are becoming careless and foolhardy. Common sense isn't taught in any university but a cow can teach us a thing or two very rapidly if the opportunity arises; so don't give it the chance, just enjoy the lovable and curious animal in its own environment and have some respect for it.
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