How to react to cattle charging towards you?

Unlike with most predators, running away works if you can get far enough fast enough. The bull chasing you can run faster than you, but the reason he's chasing you in the first place is only because he wants you out of his territory. By running away you show the bull that you're not a threat, not asserting dominance, and are also giving him the desired result. If you're lucky, after a short distance the bull will feel like he achieved his aim and stop persuing you. After all, you're not dinner to him, like you are to a predator. Once you're far enough away, you aren't worth expending energy on anymore.

It helps to run towards the nearest fence that you can hop, or some other obstacle that the bull can't as easily cross as you can. Make sure not to run towards any of the other cattle. If no fence is nearby, head towards a rocky outcrop. Cattle can walk on rocks, but see little value in them.

posted about 9 years ago

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Olin Lathrop‭

1483 reputation 14 251 115 39

I often encounter semi-wild cattle on the "range" here in Idaho. Much of our land is public, primarily mountainous, and has seasonal cattle grazing (spring to fall). Cows with calves and range bulls are a definite danger if you don't pay attention. The range bulls are a bit like moose: occasionally scared of people, but usually a bit irritated by your presence. They will usually move out of your path if you are quiet and confident, but once in a while, I meet one that is belligerent or on the "warpath" (usually a range bull). I treat them the same way I treat a moose:

• I use the terrain: get near a tree to use as a defense (this has always worked when one was available), or get on higher ground
• No aggression
• No sudden movements
• If they are not close, I make sure I'm visible and I stand my ground
• If they are close and approaching, I back off and give them the ground they want
• I've found that holding up a stick (walking stick size or longer) makes them a lot more cautious (works on most wild animals in Idaho), and they nearly always stop sooner and stay further away
• The range bulls are extremely intimidating up close, but they've never approached me closer than about 10 feet. If one were to approach closer, my plan has always been to break the stick across their face with all I've got and run in a zig-zag pattern. I grew up with Holsteins and these sometimes aggressive bulls (but not quite as scary as an Angus range bull) have never caught me.
• As a final precaution, I'm usually carrying bear spray or a pistol in the outdoors, and would use either (preferably the bear spray since I don't want to hurt an animal or pay for an expensive bull). I would use the pistol as a final defensive measure after having already been tromped a bit but, having grown up with cattle, I know the likelihood of actual, physical conflict is very minimal, so I doubt it will EVER come to that here in Idaho.

I hope that helps! -

posted about 9 years ago

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243DRob‭

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My wife grew up on a farm and every year they'd raise a steer for meat. My father-in-law, being very...um...frugal, would never buy a real beef animal to feed up. Instead, he'd find a male calf of whatever variety turned up that was...inexpensive.

One year he found what he considered a really great animal to raise - a cross between a Charolais (beef animal) and a Holstein (big dairy animal). He was duly fixed and turned out in the pasture with the dairy cows to fatten up until his appointment with the butcher came around.

He was soon as big as the smaller dairy cows - and not long after he was as big as the medium sized dairy cows - and eventually he was bigger than the biggest of the ladies - which, given that they were Holsteins and Brown Swiss, means he was a BIG DANG ANIMAL.

Soon he was too big to have around the cows so he was put into his own pasture every morning. And that's where he learned to...play.

His idea of "play" was to come up snorting and pawing to anything and everything that ventured, however briefly, into his pasture. He never actually hurt anybody - but he sure promised to do so, and nobody stuck around long enough to find out if he meant business or was just kidding around.

Well, one day my wife, who was then about 12 years old, had to get from here to there on the farm and, not seeing him in his pasture, decided to cut across it. Bad idea - because pretty soon she heard the sound of hooves thudding across the pasture behind her, getting closer and closer. She said to herself, "I am NOT going to run from this thing!", and reached down into the grass and picked something up.

Well, up came this steer, until he was right behind her where he stopped and let out a loud warning "SNOORRRT!". My wife whipped around, reached back, swung - and cracked that steer right across the nose with the 2x4 she'd picked up from the grass. The steer dropped to his knees, crossed his eyes, and let out a loud and rather pained bellow.

Bleeding badly from the nose he got back to his feet, staggered a bit, and then decided that there was something very interesting elsewhere in the pasture, and he was going to go investigate it very gingerly. My wife continued across the pasture - and from that day on, right up until that steer became freezer beef, he would not mess with her. She'd step into his pasture and he'd find reasons to be elsewhere. Anywhere. Just not around that little one. She bites! :-)

Tl;Dr

Point of the story - a 2x4, applied properly, works wonders on the most recalcitrant bovine. Only use in times of dire necessity, because an animal that's mistreated will soon become dangerous - but if you need to, make it count. (I'll point out that we raise goats, and I've never felt need to raise a hand to them. Grabbing them by the horns and holding their head steady right next to my leg is all the discipline they need. But they only weigh 100 - 150 pounds instead of the 1000+ pounds of a bovine).

posted about 9 years ago

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BobJarvis‭

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Cow will run towards you if they think you have feed or milking time. Stand your ground facing them. They will stop about 3 foot from you. A bull charges in a strait line. Head down. You can side step them & work your way to a fence or tree. A cow charges head up. They keep sight of you. If they don't hook you slide your bullock knife between there ribs. Get a lung on them. P.S. Last waterbuffalo charge I seen 3 years ago. It took 3 men to bring her down & 1 still got hurt.

posted over 7 years ago

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J Bergen‭

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In the UK (we don't have many dangerous animals) cows are the most dangerous animals you're likely to come across. They kill about a dozen people every year.

Typically most deaths are caused by herds trampling people/farmers. A lot of people are wary of bulls. In my experience a herd of mother cows is more dangerous, especially if the cows think you are a threat (i.e. have a barking dog snapping at their heels). The single most dangerous situation is a spooked herd running at you in a confined space. So don't put your self in that situation.

Typically, like many things, prevention is better than reaction. So always be aware of cows in a field. Couple of things to be wary of:

• Do the cow(s) have calves? This is typically how most people get into trouble, a mother cow will protect her calf.
• Do you have a dog with you? Keep dogs on leads in fields with cows. If your dog is attacked by a cow, don't try and save it, a dog will outrun a cow, you won't!
• Is it a single cow approaching or is the herd stampeding? A single cow is likely more scared of you than you are of it. Just stand your ground, make a lot of noise, it will likely just run away. If the herd is stampeding or a bull is running at then you're in trouble, get to the edge of the field ASAP, try and get something between you and the cow(s).
• Stay visible, and make a noise. Cows are not predators (Taken from Tim B's answer), they're not out to get you. But a startled cow will run and this may be towards other people or yourself, if it feels threatened. So make your presence known. Making a noise may attract some careful attention, the cows may think they're getting fed. Don't be too alarmed by this, it's normal and they just think you're the farmer. Typically (I find) cows with calves or bulls will stay out of your way rather than approach you like this.
• Is there a bull in the field? If yes, is it alone or with other cows? A bull with cows is likely to be more territorial than a lone bull off season.
• Is it breeding season? Bulls will be more aggressive when rutting, hence a bull with cows is more aggressive than on its own.

If in doubt (regardless of where the footpath may go) walk around the edge of the field, avoid the cows as best as you can. Farmers are typically happier for you to do this than stamp though their fields anyway. Try not to antagonise the cows (especially if they have calves).

In the UK fields with bulls in must be marked. It is illegal to put bulls in fields with a footpath though it.

posted about 9 years ago

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System‭

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When I was a child (probably about 10) I had a small herd of cows all run down the hill towards me as I was crossing the field. They didn't look aggressive and there was no bull so I just stood still and waited since I was in the middle of the field so unlikely to be able to outrun them.

They stopped and milled around me for a bit, while I spoke in a calm voice and then without moving quickly stroked one of them. Then they all moved on. Maybe they thought I might be carrying food but they seemed curious more than anything else.

I wouldn't recommend it in all cases but it certainly worked in this one.

posted about 9 years ago

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Tim B‭

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I'm late to the party but one time my dad was trying to get a calf into a corral and its mom charged my dad.

My dad stood his ground. Didn't move a muscle.

I was pretty little and I thought I was about to watch my dad get killed by a charging cow.

Just feet before hitting my dad the cow planted its feet and kind of slid to a stop. Its face was inches from my dads face. They stared into each others eyes for what seemed like an eternity to me—although it was probably only a few seconds. Eventually the cow backed down and guided its calf into the corral.

My dad shut the fence and that was it.

EDIT.

This was only a single cow. Do not do this if a bull or more than one animal is charging you. Do this at your own risk.

posted about 9 years ago

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Tyler Davis‭

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Our horses would gallop to us and skid at the last moment but they were expecting a treat. On the other hand, cows are intelligent creatures also and there are only two things influencing them. Feed and Sex. Sans protection of babies outlined above.

Throw up dirt/dust, appear bigger and step out of the way much like bull fighters and be moving toward higher, safer ground.

You can try throwing a rock but it needs to be a big enough one to take stomping you off the cow's mind.

Back to the basics? Always be with a companion. Know what is all around you . . be aware of your surroundings. Above and below such as ground hog holes (ankle twisters), rocks and trees. In the West, mountain lion hide in trees, up on rocks and rattle snakes are in the old, abandoned gopher holes. Much of nature will avoid you. Stop and smell the roses unless a dog just marked it and marvel at what nature is really all about. Keep smilin' someone will wonder what you are up to.

posted about 9 years ago

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user8167‭

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