The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned those planning to take a trip into the British countryside this Easter to stay safe around cattle.
The British workplace regulator warned that going through fields where there are cattle can be hazardous, and that both farmers and walkers should do all they can to keep everyone safe when cattle and countryside visitors are close together.
HSE inspector, Wayne Owen, said: “All large animals can be a risk to people. Even a gentle knock from a cow can result in people being crushed or falling. All cattle should be treated with respect.”
The HSE urged farmers to be aware that they have a legal responsibility to manage their herds to reduce risk to people using footpaths and other rights of way.
Advice from the HSE for anyone visiting the countryside this Easter includes giving livestock plenty of space; keeping your dog under effective control and making sure it stays away from livestock; and letting your dog off a lead if you feel threatened by livestock.
Farmers and landowners are asked to consider the following ahead of the holiday:
- No dairy bulls should be kept in fields with public access at any time;
- Where possible avoid putting cattle, especially cows with calves, in fields with public access;
- Where there is a need to keep cattle with calves or a bull in a field with public access, do all that you can to keep animals and people separated. Consider the use of fencing (permanent or temporary e.g. electric fencing);
- Assess the temperament of any cattle before putting them into a field with public access;
- If cattle, especially cows with calves, do need to be put into fields with public access, keep this period to a minimum;
- Position feed and water troughs away from public access routes and away from public entrances and exists to the field;
- Put in place a system to monitor any cattle in fields with public access at least on a daily basis. It may be worth recording this;
- Consider culling any animal that shows signs of aggression;
- Any animal that has shown any sign of aggression must not be kept in a field with public access;
- Clearly sign post all public access routes across the farm. Display signage at all entrances to the field stating what is in the field (cows with calves/bulls).
“Farmers should carefully consider the risk before putting cattle into fields with footpaths, for example cows and calves are best kept in alternative fields,” Owen said.
“Even docile cattle, when under stress, perhaps because of the weather, illness, unusual disturbance, or when maternal or other instincts are aroused, can become aggressive.
“Follow farming industry and HSE guidance to reduce the risk from animals and help people to enjoy your land and pass through smoothly.”
The HSE said it regularly investigates incidents involving cattle and the public, and that a proportion of these incidents involve serious injury or death.
Incidents in which walkers are killed or injured often involve cows with calves, or bulls. Often, those injured or killed have a dog with them, the workplace regulator said.
