I a cow can you see that i live in the country

According to a vet friend holsteins are dangerous under any circumstance effectively mad due to intensive inbreeding. I don't care about dogs but there must be more effective legislation to protect people from animals. I wonder sometimes if farmers put their stock on fields with public paths in order to discourage walkers.

I am personally getting fed up of my trail runs in the local countryside turning into a battle of wills with fields of aggressive cattle - I swear the problem is getting worse. I don't have a dog and am always on my own but whether the cows have calves or not I still often get charged at, even if only walking I tend to walk into fields now as opposed to running in the hope it may not aggravate them.

Recently I was on the South Downs Way where there was a field of exceptionally aggressive cattle. It was a very busy Sunday with lots of people out - most of who had to end up running for their lives. Interestingly, the cows were even fighting each other, snorting and running head butts! Maybe the rules regarding cattle and rights of way need reviewing?

Like this comment 20 Report abuse. Cattle are very curious beasts and can easily appear threatening, especially the younger ones who enjoy charging around. If you run that just encourages them to continue charging. Stand facing them and raise your arms high above your head and usually they stop suddenly as one. They often gather around me when I sit sketching - sitting down isn't a threat to them, but not the best option if they are already charging! But keep away from calves. Or you could go back the way you came Like this comment 4 Report abuse.

Somebody running AT a heard of cattle with calves shouldn't be surprised if the cows think they are being attacked and therefore defend their calves. A litttle common sense should be applied. Don't think that cattle will think you are a fell runner. Their instincts will say you are a wolf about to take one of the claves. Like this comment 5 Report abuse. I used to work on cattle stations in Australia, so cows really didn't freak me until walking through a large field near Hadrian's Wall where my partner and I with well behaved dog were charged.

I held them off with whooping and loud noises before the charge got too bad, but it was terrifying. I understand that modern AI breeding techniques are making aggressive tendencies worse in cattle as there is no farm selection eg farms only keeping non-aggressive bulls going on. Also farmers use quad bikes more, so cows are more on edge, less relaxed around people. I don't want to see all the footpaths being fenced off.

That would be rubbish. Like this comment 13 Report abuse. Like this comment 25 Report abuse. As a regular walker in a Derbyshire village near Calver and Froggat, many of the walkers there are sick and tired of having to double back on our river walk because of the cows. One lady ended up in the river after being butted in by one particular cow.

There is a river that runs alongside the walk, so the farmer would say he needs the water There is also a very large bull, and no notices at all warning people. I have e mailed the enviromental people today, lets see if they take any notice before someone is seriously injured! Oh I did let Peak Park know, not a word back thanks alot!!!!! Like this comment 10 Report abuse.

I have been charged several times. It continually spoils our walks as my wife will not cross afield with cow's blocking the way. The path is a public right of way. If the farmer will not protect the public then in my opinion we have the right to make an alternative safe passage across the land.

If this means climbing walls or going through other fields then I'm sorry but if the farmer doesn't want this then they should run a fence around the edge of the field. Some farmers do this and it alleviates the problem. It should be enforceable by law. I have been chased --last summer and 2 years agoa very scary experience indeedonce in the West Mendip Way near Priddy in Somerset and another time on the England Coastal Path--'The River Parrett trail'I was never worried in the past and would always walk thru cows but never againI have to do some beautiful walks in the winter months when the cows are tucked up in their barnsI had 2 narrow escapes--extremely scary.

I was walking my greyhound on a lead threw a field with cows but no calf's in Studley Warwickshire. And all off a sudden from no where these cows charged and me and the dog.. I dropped the lead thinking they wanted my dog Being a ex racedog they stood little chance and I jumped into the large stream where I had been walking..

They left me alone and carried on going for the dog I think the dog was seen as a threat to them.. Well my greyhound thought the race was on needless to say the cows Couldt keep up.. And barney my dog soon joined me.. I recommend not walking dogs in a field where they have just had calf's..

Give me a horse any day I trust them more than cows. Like this comment 7 Report abuse. I live in Country Durham, East Durham to be precise where my village is surrounded by farmland. An ideal place to walk a dog. That's exactly what I was doing at the time, many years ago when my dog and I climbed over one stile to continue walking on the public right of way which continued along the edge of that particular field. As we walked to the other stile I did see cattle in the field as I had done many times before.

They were at the furthest reaches of that large field but as soon as they saw me they began walking toward us and when they saw or smelled my dog they began galloping! That was the moment I slipped the leash off my dog and the cattle forgot all about me and started chasing after her.

They stood no chance of getting anywhere near her as she was a very fit and healthy German Shepherd who easily dodged them. After climbing over the other stile to safety, I immediately called for her and she easily cleared the stile with a single jump. My dog was far calmer than I was after the incident. When I told the farmer sometime later about what had happened he just laughed and told me to stay the f Nowadays I have to use my mobility scooter to walk my present dog which I do so along the network of local bridleways.

There are many horse riders out and about, especially during the finer weather. A few times after stopping and taking hold of my dog's collar to wait for a rider to pass, I have had on occasion, horses rear up at me which can be very frightening. I'm told by the rider it's because their horse is frightened of my scooter, not my dog.

However, I still say the incident involving the cattle all those years ago was far worse! Like this comment 8 Report abuse. Went for my first 'proper' walk on the north worcestershire path today and got surrounded by a herd of cows, I hadn't a clue what to do so ran and just about got over a fence.

It seems like a common problem that's getting worse judging by the comments here. Maybe the best solution we can all make as individuals is to go vegan? Walking on the Worcestershire Way with my very well behaved border collie, a path that I have been walking for 6 years I have never been so frightened.

I have lived in the countryside for a long time and have always been very wary of cows. They are, by nature, very inquisitive creatures. I got over the stile and immediately put my dog on his lead, as the old weathered sign instructs me. The field usually holds no more than 6 large Aberdeen Angus looking cows, which are very docile.

I commenced walking parallel to the hedge and became aware that there were cows in the adjacent field. Although I could not see them I knew they were following us. Not concerned too much I continued my walk across the field. When I got halfway down where the hedge stops I nearly died. About 20 very young cows ran out in front of us and then came to an abrupt halt, each one focussed on us.

My heart, which was now in my throat, nearly stopped and I thought, "Oh Christ what the hell is going to happen now". I had no choice but to try and negotiate my way towards them. They started to move to my side then I realised that coming up the rear of the cows was a very young, very fiesty bull which was now stood firmly grounded, front hoof digging at the soil, head dipping and rising.

I can honestly say I was petrified. He wouldn't move for it seemed like ages. I had to keep walking, because to turn round would mean I would have twice the distance to get back to the stile.

I just kept praying that my dog would remain calm and quiet and God bless him, he did. Although I could see the next gate it seemed miles away but I continued to walk towards the bull and he did start moving following on behind the cows.

Once they had dispersed to my right I was then fully aware that they were all behind me, which put us in a very vulnerable position. My pace did quicken, very slightly, and the cows, lead by the bull, started following us, which I knew they would. Although it is very difficult to go against the overwhelming urge to run, I didn't. However, the herd was gaining on us, very quickly and every time I turned around they were getting closer and closer and faster and faster.

I don't know what made me do it but I just must have gone into survival mode. I turned completely around, waved my stick in the air made a sshhh, sshhh sound and ran towards the herd. The cows freaked and trotted away but the bull stood his ground, he kept dipping his head and starting bucking, so I went towards him again. Then to my amazement he turned around and started following the cows. I continued to walk, a bit quicker this time, towards the gate, looking back to check. Once safe I stood and wondered how the hell I had got out alive.

I was absolutely petrified. My advice. Don't ever run away, go towards them, wave your arms and make a sound. This herd was not provoked and my dog behaved impeccably. There was no sign saying 'Bull in field' NB not all farmers abide by the law! The reason I'm on the road and not on the path is because the two attempts to get on the path would have meant entering fields with cows in.

Avoiding going into the 2nd field was one of the best decisions I had ever made. While walking parallel to the filed one of the Black Aberdeen Angus cows had clearly taken a shine to me. It was stood perfectly still as close against the fence as it could get, this was seriously freaking me out as I already have a unexplainable fear of cows. I picked up my pace and kept turning my head to keep an eye on this cow. To my horror it started running to catch up level with me; I can honestly say it was one of my most scariest moments ever.

I've seen video footage of how bulls can jump our of the bull ring, and this is what I thought was going to happen; the cow was going to jump the fence and attack. I had no where to go due to a foot thick hedge to the right of me, I was to afraid to start running just in case this rattled it more, so I just continued with my increased walking pace and prayed for the field to come to an end.

I couldn't stop thinking "what if I had gone on the path in the field"? Well I probably wouldn't be sharing this tale with you. My already fear has now increased fold and I'm cross that it will now interfere with the other walks I do :.

As long as the farmers are acting within the law signs, bulls in correct fields , I think it's whoever runs the public rights of way that needs to reassess. I see many commenters talking about national walking paths such as the Pennine Way and St.

Cuthbert's Way. They're promoted as well-travelled routes that you can commit a day or successive days to. You're relying on following the route to get back to your car, public transport or place to stay overnight. Having your route blocked can lead to a diversion that's dangerous for other reasons busy road, steep, much longer and running out of water or fading light , and at best means you're not always able to visit the places you wanted to. Shaftoe Crags in Northumberland are dramatic rock formations that are promoted as a visitor attraction, but my husband and I were unable to reach the largest rocks because cows with calves blocked the public footpath, so we edged around the field.

Our most recent walk should have taken us to some caves with prehistoric drawings again, promoted to the public but a field contained a bull at least this was signposted and a narrow footpath with gates at either end suddenly had a cow or bull - didn't stick around to check blocking the path. We had no choice but to turn back and do a diversion on a road, which thankfully had a path at the side. It added an hour to our walk and at least we had a car to get home - missing a bus in a rural area could mean waiting hours or until the next day for the next one.

That was a minor inconvenience - on a longer walk it could really mess up your plans. Another walk gave us a choice of edging around a field and having 1 mile left, or diverting by at least 3 miles and going on a busy road or going back the previous 7 miles. You absolutely have to act sensibly and prepare when setting off on a walk, but I don't think it's reasonable to promote public access when that access can be abruptly cut off. We're going to stick to disused railway lines, Woodland Trust woods, and quiet country roads from now on.

I'm sure many others make the same decision, which is going to impact on the businesses that rely on walkers using national routes. Anyone reading this will surely wonder whether walking in the country is safe at all. I've had one scary incident, but not as bad as some people here have had. Even so, it made me wary of cattle from that day on, more than 15 years ago.

I can only take my hat off to those who managed to stand their ground and not run In this case, not at all the best course of action. I had a scary experience in Northumberland a few years back.

The whole herd crossed a large field to approach my back. I was listening to my ipod so didn't hear them coming until it was almost too late. They weren't being inquisitive their manner was one of outright aggression. I avoided a couple of charges and managed to stay on my feet.

With the herd closing around me, I went for the gap and ran. I had the narrowest of head starts but they closed so quickly that when I reached the nearest fence I dived over head first and arms outstretched. I would never have had time to climb over. I did nothing to unsettle them. I didn't have a dog. They didn't have calves. I'm sure I would have been seriously injured or killed had that fence been a few meters further. I later found out that a walker had been killed by cattle, not far away just a couple of days earlier.

In the couple of years since returning to Somerset, I've had two more incidents in one I was butted and also witnessed a man narrowly escape being trampled. I've heard of many other cases. I grew up in the Lancashire countryside and can only recall one half-incident in 15 years or so. Now, in my 40s, I'm scared to enter any field with cows in.

This is why Mahatma Gandhi, like so many other Hindus, saw the protection of cows as being central to Hinduism. He once said that, "If someone were to ask me what the most important outward manifestation of Hinduism was, I would suggest that it was the idea of cow protection. While there is no national law against slaughtering a cow for beef, it makes it extremely difficult for non-Hindus to consume beef in the country.

Given how useful a living cow is to Hindus and the sheer number of people living in the country, we can understand why India has so many cows roaming around.

Food for thought Raw numbers and data hardly ever tell the whole story. And yet, all too often we are swayed by a number that's spouted off by a member of the media or a politician without knowing the story behind the number.

That's why it is critical to understand what the numbers are saying. Just like the story behind why India has so many cows, there is almost always a deeper story behind the numbers. So, take the extra time not to be wowed by a new fact, but to learn the story behind that number. Discounted offers are only available to new members. Stock Advisor will renew at the then current list price. Investing Best Accounts.

Stock Market Basics. Stock Market. Industries to Invest In. Getting Started. Planning for Retirement. Retired: What Now? Personal Finance. Credit Cards. After giving birth, mothers lactate for about 10 months. Then they are impregnated again. This cycle continues until cows are around 5 years old. Spent cows are killed and sold as low-grade beef or for other uses. The actual milking process does not appear to cause cows pain, however, this could be due to a lack of scientific exploration or understanding.

The conditions dairy cows endure on factory farms can cause pain, ulcers, and even bone fractures. Psychological pain also appears to be prevalent on farms. Mothers have been known to cry for days at a time after their calves are removed from them at birth, a cruel practice that is standard in the industry. Cows have evolved to produce enough milk for their calves, amounting to about one gallon of milk per day.

Modern dairy farming has resulted in the drastic increase of milk production to seven and a half gallons per day. Cows are trapped in an endless cycle of pregnancy which forces their bodies to produce the largest amounts of milk possible. These practices, combined with the conditions on factory farms, give rise to numerous physical problems in cows that often result in chronic and debilitating pain.

For a dairy cow on a factory farm, infertility can be a death sentence. Because cows must give birth to produce milk, an infertile cow becomes a financial liability and will quickly be removed from the herd and killed. Even a decrease in fertility can be lethal. Some cows experience reproductive issues, requiring them to be bred less frequently. But decreases in production are something most factory farms will not tolerate.

Low-producing cows are often the first to be sent to slaughter. Lameness in dairy cows is often attributed to the conditions on factory farms, which see thousands of cows crowded into cramped, indoor spaces.

Conditions such as ulcers in their hooves result from standing on concrete for prolonged periods, or a lack of opportunities to exercise. Lameness is also triggered by infections, such as foot rot and digital dermatitis, which occur when cows are forced to stand in feces. Mastitis is an infection of the mammary gland in mammals caused by a bacterial infection. The condition is one of the most common reasons for reduced production in cows, costing the industry billions of dollars every year.

Infections are triggered by unsanitary conditions in barns, where cows lie on soiled bedding, or when they are exposed to contaminated equipment. Mastitis is a painful condition for cows but is only fatal if farmers see production levels drop.