Footpath Warning Signs?

[lol geoff]

What does the sign "Warning Legally Kept Bull in This Field" actually mean?

I often walk across a local field and have often noticed cattle grazing on the far side of the field well away from the footpath but the other evening they were gathered around the new metal kissing gate that allows access to the field. As I approached it was like a scene in an old western they all stopped what they were doing, turned there heads and started staring at me. I noticed the warning sign laying on the ground next to the old wooden kissing gate that was also laying in the field presumably awaiting disposal. I stood there for a few minutes thinking what my next move would be and as a detour would add at least a mile on top of my journey not to mention the extra time and the damage to my self esteem, I decided to go for it. After putting all my valuables into a zip up pocket, just in case I had to make a run for it as I wasn't going back for anything I dropped, I opened the gate. I was expecting it to be like Mosses parting the Red Sea and all the cows to scatter but as I walked through them it was more like the scene in Hitchcock's "The Birds" the bit when they walk through the school playground and all the crows are sitting there watching them, I was trying not to make eye contact but still have an air of authority about me, they slowly ambled away huffing and puffing as they went. As I reached the other side of the herd I saw in the distance one black one on it's own straddling the foot path right by the other kissing gate the other side of the field. As I had already negotiated the other girls I carried on regardless. The closer I got the bigger the animal seemed but as the other cows were beef cattle they were all quite big as well and the lack of big udders did not raise any alarm bells either. I was about 20 yards away when he turned to look at me and it was then that I spotted that not only was he more muscled and toned than the others he was sporting what could in no way be confused with female appendages. I decided to give him as wider berth as possible whilst trying not to look unduely conscerned. He didn't move he did a sort of half hearted snort as I made my way slowly through the gate, it was a bit like when two cats meet and although they don't really want to fight they don't want to loose face so they move away as in slow motion. I like to think that the bull was as warey of me as I was of him.

Anyway back to the question, if and I ended up having to wrestle the bull and lost, does the farmer by displaying this sign absolve himself of any responsibility because I entered the field Knowing there was a bull in that field?

ps. Sorry about all the referances to films, I must get out more.

[Jim Ford]

I understand that the bulls of beef cattle breeds are quite docile, and that the worst are Jersey bulls. I give 'em all the benefit of the doubt, though!

Jim

[RobSutton]

I think I'm right in saying that there are certain breeds that the farmer can't keep in fields with public footpaths running through them - they are the dairy breeds like Fresians, Jersey, Guernsey and one or two more. I'm not sure it applies to bulls just by themselves or whether it applies to bulls kept with heifers as well. The beef breeds are usually run with heifers for a lot of the time anyway and are more placid and can be kept in fields with footpaths.

Perhaps this explains why he felt it necessary to say that these were legally OK to have in the field. I've got no idea of what the legal position is in case of injury. Also I believe there are more people (a number every year) killed by incidents involving cows with calves rather than bulls.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I understand that the bulls of beef cattle breeds are quite docile, and that the worst are Jersey bulls. I give 'em all the benefit of the doubt, though!

Jim

Beat me to it Jim - must speed up my typing fingers.

[tufftie]

I'm not sure but have you tried looking on the Ramblers Association website - they are very good on things like that?
There was a bull in the field where I park the car (a footpath runs through the field too) They are beef cattle but not sure what breed but he seemed very docile....think his attention was elsewhere!

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

I think I'm right in saying that there are certain breeds that the farmer can't keep in fields with public footpaths running through them - they are the dairy breeds like Fresians, Jersey, Guernsey and one or two more. I'm not sure it applies to bulls just by themselves or whether it applies to bulls kept with heifers as well. The beef breeds are usually run with heifers for a lot of the time anyway and are more placid and can be kept in fields with footpaths.

Perhaps this explains why he felt it necessary to say that these were legally OK to have in the field. I've got no idea of what the legal position is in case of injury. Also I believe there are more people (a number every year) killed by incidents involving cows with calves rather than bulls.

Thinking about it it's the cows that are more likely to harm you - especially if you get between them and their calf or they can be very grumpy when the calves are first taken away from them.
If you are ever worried get yourself a bit of alkathane piping (blue water pipe) - they don't like the sound of it... a trick I leaned when working with cattle up on Islay

[ellen h]

Its the cows you have to watch or more importantly the calves.If you accidentally get between a cow and its calf that can be very dangerous.Of course not every cow is an overprotective mother.Just bear that in mind when going through a herd of cows with calves.
As for the bull most have one thing on their mind when in with a herd of cows,but they can be dangerous too.The local farm has 2 hereford bulls which are pretty placid.But at the end of the day when walking through cows you should expect the unexpected,be aware where they are and make sure you are not going to get cornered.
If you have a dog with you and the cows appear to take exception to it it is better to drop the lead as most of the time the cows will chase after the dog,who in turn can usually get away.A lot of people get trampled by trying to protect their pets.

Dont honestly know if by having a warning sign it exempts farmers from responsibility,but believe that by reading sign you accept the danger if you walk through said field
ellen

[naturegirl]

I remember being on a camping holiday in the Yorkshire Dales some years ago with friends and our 2 dogs.

We were walking over the hills and came upon some very large cattle (don't know the breed) who were just grazing calmly. We rounded a large dry stone wall and were confronted with a HUGE bull!

He took one look at us (3 adults and 4 children) and started pawing the ground, snorting and digging his horns into the ground!

Needless to say we beat an extremely hasty retreat! He followed bellowing and still pawing the ground. I was absolutely terrified that he would jump the wall and kill us all. It was the worst experience I've ever had with cattle and I've lived with them all my life.

Naturegirl

[deer boy]

There's a bull on Exmoor that roams the moors having been told since i was a little boy to stay away from them i was surprised to see it on the open moors.
Like some of you have already said i think it's probably certain ones you have to watch out for.

Hereford fc have a bull (real live one) as there mascot i remember watching Tottenham play them years ago on the telly & seeing this massive bull walking down the sideline

And i have to mention this story, on one of the Johnny Kingdom DVD's i have him & a camera man went out filming Hares only to get trapped in a field with a bull
They were not laughing, it took ages to get out very funny to watch though

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by deer boy

There's a bull on Exmoor that roams the moors having been told since i was a little boy to stay away from them i was surprised to see it on the open moors.
Like some of you have already said i think it's probably certain ones you have to watch out for.

Hereford fc have a bull (real live one) as there mascot i remember watching Tottenham play them years ago on the telly & seeing this massive bull walking down the sideline

And i have to mention this story, on one of the Johnny Kingdom DVD's i have him & a camera man went out filming Hares only to get trapped in a field with a bull
They were not laughing, it took ages to get out very funny to watch though

That sounds a good laugh......Scary though.

[Jim Ford]

Basically, you shouldn't trust _any_ animal that's bigger and stronger than you - including horses!

Jim

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Basically, you shouldn't trust _any_ animal that's bigger and stronger than you - including horses!

Jim

Agreed, but I'd change that to shouldn't trust any animal completely (even humans )

[Adam Cheeseman]

Farmers are obliged to put up notices where a field has a public footpath crossing it, when keping bulls in them.

Cheers,

Adam

[BloomingMarvellous]

Made me laugh reading your story lol geoff, I had a simular expeirence with sheep just down the road from me, they just kept getting nearer and nearer, must of been fifty or more, and when they got too close for comfort I found myself Roaring at them and waving my shopping bag at them. I was later told by a Farmer that the Sheep thought I was there to feed them.

[G0NYM]

Hi all
There is a lot of useful info on the Ramblers association web site,as mentioned in a previous post. This is a cut and paste from there foot path laws
( 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 Frisian, 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.)
I hope this helps
Martin

[BloomingMarvellous]

Been looking at the Ramblers site myself, have a bit of an interest In Forgotten Footpaths after finding an old local map of my area. Haven't found any Forgotten Footpaths but I have found out that all the local villages had a Rail network and It's been fun finding the disused Railway line.

[BloomingMarvellous]

lol geoff, I think we're neighbours, so you'd better tell me where that Bull field Is. Blooming Marvellous

[SparklySarah]

Originally Posted by deer boy

Hereford fc have a bull (real live one) as there mascot i remember watching Tottenham play them years ago on the telly & seeing this massive bull walking down the sideline

Hereford bulls are quite docile. I live in Herefordshire and you can go up to a Hereford bull and stroke it quite easily. But not all of them are the same, so don't take my word too far!!

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Basically, you shouldn't trust _any_ animal that's bigger and stronger than you - including horses!

Jim

Horses aren't too bad, I've worked with them all my life and it depends on what type of horse you have (for instance a thoroughbred mare is not one for beginners!!(I have a story about that)). Marcus, the one I ride, is a big softie and a little dopey sometimes. But if he wants to go somewhere, he will!! He went lame this week though. He was in agony with laminitis. Better now though.

Yeah, and the sign is jut to warn you that there is a tempremental bull in the field, just so the farmer doesn't get in trouble with the law for not warning footpath users.

Sarah

[Meta menardi]

Most farmers breed their stock with a great deal of care, and can select for different traits. One of the most effective traits that can be selected is docility, so cattle are very much likely to be docile.

That said, a large animal with a bit of lust or even curiosity won't notice if it bumps you, your dog or whatever. I have worked with cattle for many years, never trust a bull, keep an eye on them, but don't think they will automatically go for you.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Whilst staying at the Youth Hostel in Arundel I decided to walk along the river bank on the public footpath into town instead of drive as usual. I got half way across a large empty field when I heard the unmistakeable bellowing of a bull in the distance. There in a secluded corner was a large bull pawing the ground and obviously not too happy about my presence. I had to turn round and, without running, I made it back to the stile about 10 seconds before the bull. Phew. There were no signs on the stiles or gates.

Cheers,

Adam

[ChrisJB]

My missus is very jittery whenever we are on walks and we have to cross pasture with cows/bulls or horses in them. As long as I am on a right of way I'll always go for it, though might not follow the footpath shown on the O.S map and instead keep to the field boundary, so I can hop over the wall if I need to.
The only problems I have had is when I've walked with dogs. The first time, with the dog on a lead, it all got too much and I had to start jumping up and down and shouting at the cows as they closed in on us. Eventually I though 'sod it', unleashed the hound and let it take its chances. The cows left me alone and chased after the dog instead, who found it great fun sidestepping their charges and leaped to safety over the wall by the stile. High jinks indeed.

Regards, Chris

[agrumpycow]

Maybe it's not just rural footpaths you have to be wary with, imagine just going into town to do your shopping and finding yourself caught up in this: BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Escaped bulls rampage at resort Luckily no-one was seriously injured

[BloomingMarvellous]

That's happened several times In Brighton, I actually witnessed It once, one stampeding Bull running down Lewes Road, frightened the Life out of me, luckily I was In a car.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by BloomingMarvellous

That's happened several times In Brighton, I actually witnessed It once, one stampeding Bull running down Lewes Road, frightened the Life out of me, luckily I was In a car.

Whenever there is a slow news day, someone form the local newspaper or radio station lets a bull loose!!

henrya