Bulls in Fields crossed by Public Paths?
Q. Can a farmer keep a bull in a field crossed by a public path?
Stewart Smith, Corby
A. 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 and you should report it the police and the Ramblers Association.
It is best not to take dogs into fields containing cows with young calves.
Stallions, boars and cows with calves should all be treated with caution.
Derek Cosslett, Llandrindod Wells
A. What difference does the 10 months threshold make to the danger a bull in a field may pose to walkers, and is his being in a herd of cows supposed to mollify the brute?
Ruston Bucyrus, Gloucester
A. in my view and experience Accompanied by cows the bull is calm and generally to pre-occupied to be bothered with walkers, although with a dog you may attract unwanted attention. The Dairy Bull Alone or in small groups tend to be rather more shirty and 'spiteful' in their attitude. some being extremely dangerous in thier nature.
Nick
A. I have found bulls in fields crossed by paths on several occasions, mostly when walking with the Fylde Naturalists group. However, they have been with cows, and nothing has happened, but we always keep our eyes on them and give them as wide a berth as possible. However, there was one occasion, in July 1987, when I was walking a section of the Offa's Dyke Path with a CHA group between Redbrook and St. Briavels, when we walked along the top edge of a field (the correct route for the Dyke path) and a large Hereford Bull was at the bottom of the field. The leader shouted "everybody over the wall", and we had to scramble over a wall with (I seem to remember) some barbed wire! One lady slipped as she was climbing over and suffered a nasty gash to her leg. The bull was at the top of the field in seconds, and glared at us as we walked through the field on the other side of the wall. Once we were past another wall or fence, and well clear of him, the leader instructed us to return to the other side of the wall. I believe he was going to report the incident.
David Dawber, Lytham St Annes
A. I nearly walked into that problem myself just a couple of weeks ago as i walked across Riggs Moor between Wharfedale & Nidderdale. I came off the moor along the Public Footpath & eventualy arrived at a gate & cattle grid, Although i could see cattle down at the bottom of the long field i thought nothing of it as there were no warning signs anywhere. I opened & closed the gate behind me & started to walk into the field - just happened to look back at the gate for some reason & only then noticed the sign "Beware of the Bull" on the back of the gate!! On closer inspection i could see the beast in with the cows & gave it a very wide berth.
Steven Gill, Guiseley
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