How Dangerous Are Cows To Walkers? 

I work on a dairy farm and a majority of cows are friendly and curious.....they are very funny too

Comparing numbers of deaths doesn't really mean anything at all. Not many people are killed by sharks each year, that doesn't make them not dangerous. Cows aren't usually dangerous, but they definitely can be, and it's therefore better to acknowledge the potential dangers and act appropriately, rather than just dismiss them as being perfectly safe to be around. You have to remember these animals can weigh over 700kg and would easily kill a human whether intentional or not.

Something: *exists* Cows: 'ello 'ello 'ello, what's all this then?

One danger of walking in a field full of cows is stepping in cow poop.

Dairy cows are usually harmless, their curious and mostly like a scrath. But if theres a bull do not go in. Youre a target.

Love the way he increases the tension by transitioning from standing, to crouching and then to lying on the ground! Extreme cow field action right there peeps.

Interesting stats. There's probably a lot more people taking baths than people walking through fields of cows 😂

Was working as a post man many years ago. At my last post-box there was a field I had to drive past. There were many cows there. After I had delivered the mail I would always stop right beside the field to look at the cows. Whenever I did this they would always stop eating and stare at me. All of them. Creepy as hell.

My Dads a kiwi farmer and thinks its crazy for us to walk in fields with other peoples cows in the UK, he wouldn't walk though cattle that wasn't his own and he is used to them.

Some people take a bath once a day but never walk through a field of cows. If you compare death/encounter rate, it'll paint a very different picture.

"Only 72 people have been killed by cows" The cow walking up to him: "and if you keep it up it's gonna be 73"

I was led to this video because me and my teenage son were literally chased down a ravine by a herd of cows a couple of days ago. They were definitely not being inquisitive. Things have got worse in the last couple of years to be honest.

Of all the tragic deaths I’ve read about, it was people walking through fields, with a dog (often not on a lead) and where there are calves in the herd. As a kid I walked through fields of cows, never had a problem.

Had a close proper close encounter with a young Highland bull today walking with my 4 Yr old he was a bit tense meeting us on the path we stood our ground and squeezed pass shat myself a little bit

It would be interesting to know what percentage of that tiny number of deaths associated with cattle in fields were triggered by confrontations between cows and dogs - I wouldn’t mind betting that the answer is almost all of them. If cattle go for a dog, let the dog go is the golden rule - it can outrun them.

This has made me feel so much happier about being in a field with cows, so thank you!

Cows are amoung the most docile and timid of animals. Unlike bulls (uncastrated male bovine), who are generally pretty unpredictable and often very aggressive.

In the past 30 years I've been chased three times by cows. First time was around 1993 with a bunch of friends at night trying to get across a field to a party. The herd were sleeping in the middle of the field. They all stood up and followed us in the dark. Very intimidating as they formed an approaching wall. Some of us cut our legs on barbed wire scrambling over a fence to get away. Second time was in a field with lots of blind spots, brush, random bushes and no visibility in 2007. A woman walking a sheep dog had spooked a mother cow and calf. The field was on a steep slope and was L shaped. I reached the corner of the L and was about to ascend when the mothers horns appeared at the top of the slope followed by the smaller calf. They immediately charged. It was the same distance along the bottom of the L (hedge) to the style. As I approached the stile I could hear the hooves getting closer and aggressive snorting. I leapt over the stile in a diving motion. Had I tried to climb I would have been struck as the cow was definitely faster than me. What made it worse was that she was thumping her hooves on the ground and snorting aggressively before she eventually left. Terrifying. The third time was just two months ago- December 2021. A field of about twenty of this European imported breed (more aggressive and unpredictable apparently). I was walking my dog and calculated we would be able to make it to the stile half the way up the field as the cows were moving away to the other end of the field and if we were quiet they wouldn't hear us. Wrong. Got a third of the way up and was spotted. Before I knew it at least ten of them were stampeding towards us. There was no way we would reach the stile before them so I ducked into the adjoining field and for some reason they didn't figure to come after us. They just seemed to be crowding by the hedge and hadn't figured to enter the field we'd run into. A good thing as that field had high hedges and no easy exit. We'd have been cornered. Lesson learned. Three times now. This video, as nice as it is, would not be one I'd have made. The black and white traditional breed is more placid and domesticated. The new European breeds (black and brown colour) are bigger, more aggressive and unpredictable. This attack I recently experienced with my dog was in December - so it can happen anytime That's a fact. Be very careful. I'd actually suggest avoid them entirely.

As a fisherman who has to cross field to get to ponds. I have been chased many times by cows, my mate got attacked and I saw a fisherman get all his tackle smashed and pushed into the pond by a herd of cows.

Good post mate. Agree with all you say. Mrs and I are always ultra careful when calves are around though.

One of the best defenses against overly aggressive cows is a dark colored umbrella. Pop it open before them and they normally back off. Has worked for me often. They can be sneaky and move very quietly for an animal of such size. But, do keep an eye on them as they can take a fright and hurtle off in unexpected directions, like yours. FYI, they can run as fast as 25 miles per hour!

Me, my brother & dog got attacked by a herd of about 20 today. Do avoid cows. We both feel really lucky to be alive & thats been honest.

I notice you picked a field with particularly small cows, or are they just far away?

You might want to reconsider saying that it is more dangerous to sit in a bath than to walk with cows. More people die in baths probably because more people take baths. More people take baths then walk with cows

Brilliant. And a much needed piece of PR for the cow. Most of the deaths I bet were walkers with dogs and calves in that field. It’s a tragedy but I blame the walker. I would never walk in a field of cows with my dog. Why worry them when I can walk my dog in a field of no cows. It’s just common sense.

1:42 he’s like “wtf is this guy yapping about, do he got food?”

thanks I needed this for peace of mind

I walked through a cattle field but the ones who approached me had horns on their head seemingly protecting the small ones, I wasn't attacked but they were aiming their horns like they would rather I wasn't there so I quickly walked off the patch!

I actually had a nice cow encounter today with my dog who was on a leash due to her being scared of the cows. I walked past them ( they were youngish steers) and they just looked at me until I went through a gate and stood near them. They were extremely curious and one let me rub him and I ended up getting licked by hin

How many injured, how many would have been injured if they hadn't taken evasive action? I mean yes mostly without a dog they are fine but I've seen cows being aggressive to walkers on a few occasions and I don't mean just inquisitively gathering round.

never go in a field with cows and calves that is. the dangerous time

I’m stuck on randomly coming across of field with cows on it ……. In the parts of the US Ive lived in they’ve always been fenced off in huge fields.

What about for runners? Is it best not to jog past cows/bulls and horses even if there aren’t calves around?

Please do not go into a field where there are cows with calves ! Just this summer in 2022 I have read about 3 deaths of dog owners walking though fields with cows. Myself and my Dog where also ambushed in a field near us by a herd with calves. The same herd killed a woman walking her dog through there a few weeks later.

I'm in Scotland and used to regularly go family walks through fields with livestock when young. I have started trying to get back out walking but I am now terrified to go through fields incase there is livestock unless there is a fenced off path, so mostly stick to roads.

I walked through a field with cows and one followed and grunted at me. I was scared! Then the next field had a sign bull in field at the style, then I froze as I was too scared to continue or go back. Eventually I walked back through the cow’s field but kept my distance from them.

i’ve spent time around cattle since i was pretty much a baby, i turn 18 in 5 days and the one thing i’ve learned over the past 17-18 years is you’ll be fine as long as you stay out of their blind spots (directly in front and behind them), don’t get too close to mamas calf, keep ur toes out of the way, and you should be good!

I have been terrified of cows since I was a kid

I've never be scared of cows. especially since they already have a lot of human interaction with the farmer. They will come and inspect you but just read the herd. I would honestly say though you would need to really bother the herd. For them to chase you.

Cows are just curious. Most of they have considerable experience with people. Iv walked around cows all my life. If they have young with them I go round them. Bullocks tend to push boundaries abit and they can come across as abit threatening but they are just curious and playful. It's when there's a bull in the field you have to be careful or when there's young.

Soo when I was 9 I had to walk through a field of cows....I was bawling my eyes out..I now have a fear of cows

I once was in the park with my dad and we did nothing and this big fat cow starting chasing us at full speed 😭 I’m terrified ever since

I work on a ranch and we had a mother cow with a teat spider and we had to haul the baby who was about 2 weeks old still weighed like a newborn and give him the bottle. I held him and carried him on the back of a side by side, his mom ran after me and kept about 16" of distance but i kept talking with her and she knew we were trying to help. First calf i ever had to bury :(

Bulls can be dangerous , milking cows can get you kicked and sometimes letting a cow get too comfortable with can be a slight risk. If cattle become pushy from hand feeding grain etc can cause them to possibly get pushy and maybe bump you causing one to fall. Over all cattle are relatively safe unless enclosed as you pointed out, especially wild ones enclosed.

Cows with calves is a big no no I did it yesterday and didnt realise they are that aggresive till now haha

My uncle was almost killed by a cow and fair enough the dog startled them. I've been terrified of them since and to make matters worse we were just crossing a field on the outskirts and out of nowhere a bull chased us we didnt and couldn't have done anything. I just dont think getting near them is worth it

Great Video. Thanks for the Peace of mind. 👍. I’d better be careful in the bath 😀

I am a regular Walker , my impression of cows ? They really are innocent. I remain calm always ignore them , dont run. I think they think you are the farmer about to feed them . I recently camped in a field full of bullocks.i had to chase them off as they were surrounding and licking my tent.

Loads of cows saw me waking my dog and they ran towards the gate andstared him down. It was so scary I thought they were going to get through and attack. I wanted to stroke one but they look terrifying up close and their eyes were focused on my dog

72 is a lot!

I was working, sitting down in a field and one started following me to different points and begun snorting, turning sideways and stopping. I slowly stood up and gtfo, was about to attack. Lots of calves and moms

Very dangerous I was metal detecting 7 cows charged me I climbed on top of a dry stone wall one of the cows tried hitting its self against the wall while another run around to the other side of the wall , I had to jump down a 6ft drop onto a road to get away !! And It’s not the first time I’ve been chased by cows they can be extremely dangerous, you talk absolute bollocks mat not bullocks!!

I'd worry more about being on private property and having the rancher become aggressive

I was chased by a herd of cows ....scary at the time scary now but definitely one of my favourite memories

I got chased by 10 baby cows today I had to run over a river to escape 😂

Is it also not dependent on the genes and type of breed temperament etc? Thanks a million for the vid.

Very infomative video

I think it's ok if it's a known walking route. But if is not then it can be more dangerous, as I've found myself in the middle of a field with a bull and his girlfriends a few times, or when your stuck in mud that goes up to your calves

After recent experiences, I would say: It depends greatly on the breed. I would also ask, HOW did the "cow deaths" that you mention as being so negligible actually happen? Were the victims just walking across fields..? In which case, logically, it's not unreasonable to be apprehensive.

Love this!!

That's where the magic mushrooms are, bulls on the other hand yeah that's something else!

Cows be like : hey look , a new friend to pet us !

But then theres those occational few bulls that really has taken upon themselves to permanently fill that herd security protection post. We´ve had a couple. One even put our tractors in place

Cows: hey, am I on youtube??

Great and informative video. Thanks. Hardy

Farmers shouldn't be putting aggressive livestock out in any field with public rights of way running through them. Most don't but some can be quite belligerent.

Cows are loving animals. We have thousands of cows on street but hardly anyone gets attacked by them. Cows are curious they might approach you just out of curiosity if you panic the animal might panic and attack you.

They act completely different if I walk with a dog. They are curious about dogs, so they start coming up closer. If I walk/run without one, they don't really bother.

Once as a kid my sister and I were walking through a pasture and the cows followed us in a way that I thought was kind of threatening. To this day, I'm not sure if i was imagining this or not. It was one of the few times at that age that my mother wasn't with us, but wasn't the first time we'd ever been alone in pasture full of cows either. My best guess is that this group was curious as well, but it wasn't their usual friendly interest. They knew we didn't really belong there because they didn't know us. They weren't exactly threatening, but they definitely made sure we turned around and left quickly. At least that's my best guess. This group was absolutely friendly andbthe only problem you were going to have is if they got frustrated with you for not paying attention to them. They clearly could not figure out why you weren't petting them! Edit: they are so cute!!!

2:44 the synchrony of those three cows 😂

What is happening and what should you do if a herd group together then start galloping towards you? This has happened to me and my wife a couple of times and is very intimidating. Ordinarily we are fine walking through but when they start running at you, I can’t be sure what their intentions are so we do one to safety.

I always have been greeted by cows in a very friendly way. They just walk up to me and lick me. It’s the Oxen that almost always charge me… in this group, male/female characteristics dictate MOST dangers.

Where is that field it looks near me

I find that the normal cows are very curious but skittish. I think of them like having the intelligence of geese except even more afraid despite their size. At least a goose will hiss but cows have ran from me just for sneezing or standing up.

A cow can f. you up. Was out in the new forest earlier, accidentally split a herd, as they were quite dispersed. Rest of herd appeared from over a small hill, they had a calf. Got mooooed at from far herd, nearer cow mooed back and eyeballed me, then charged. Glad I had brown trousers.

Cows are actually very nice people.

I was walking through the Peak District today, was approached by a cow like you were and then it started charging us! No calves in the field at all, I shouted at it and started backing up slowly and it stopped before reaching us. Then watched us until we’d left the field. So I’m not sure you’re video is entirely correct! If we’d ran it could have trampled us quite badly!

I was just sat on a wall and a whole herd came up to me just curious, sniffing and watching. I got off and slowly walked away just incase 😂 I adore cows as much as I want to pet them I’m just going to respect them from a distance.

Thank you. Finally someone who knows cows. They are just always looking for something to eat. You walk, they walk, you run, they run, you stop, they stop. Monkey see, monkey do. Thanks so much. I am sending this to Runa... "Off she goes." For Runa. 😁

Cows are lovely.

What about if there is a bull in the field? They look massive and muscly and they can give you the stare...but are they considerably more dangerous than cows?

A farmer told me to never trust cows in a field at any time. He showed me his herd and said the lead cow was often mean.

Yeah I went out at 4:30 in november for a walk. I saw cows on the field all the way down the hill and on my return they all migrated up to the top of the hill. I didn't want to use my flash to intimidate them because it was dark. I took the long way round because I was not trying to get charged by cows in the dark lol.

God video :-) But can you tell the number of those seriously injured but survived?

“As you can see 👁 👄 👁…I’m not nervous *looks around nervously* …at all.” *gulp*” 😂

The video ended just as the cows approached with their razor sharp teeth.

The Montbeliardes cows I find in the Jura Moubtains (France) are absolute sweethearts, and I NEVER miss an opportunity to give some a good brushing 😊 And yeah, there is a slight chance I miss a sign of hostility and get hurt Whatever. As you said : people die in bath tubs !

01:58 Clearly much more people are having baths than people come across cows, so although the statistic is right - the percentage would tell the truth. Anyways Loved the video! keep up the good work

Try doing all that if there is a dog with you. Different story. Someone I know was killed by cows because they had a dog with them and the heard had calves.

Come to India When we walk on street, there are cows around us. If a cow is sitting on a road, the entire traffic will be go around it. They are harmless and too cute! Basically India is full of cows, with few people around it!

I was chased by 50 cows today

Sometimes cows will surround people or other animals crossing their field and will start attacking said person or animal

Useful information would be to let go of your dogs lead if you’re caught out I.e. the cows weren’t visible when entering the field and they charge you on sight. Just happened to me, I’ve lived on a farm and this was a first, a very aggressive cow. Someone also killed in Carlisle 2 days ago. The farmers have a duty of care to fence off cattle that cause a risk. Jeff the farmer in my village said just now the farmer in question is an “arse”.

Did anyone else notice 2:44-2:49 the cows on the right side of the guys turned their heads simultaneously? 🐮👀

me being trampled after watching this video walking at my grandmas lol

Ok so I’m terrified of cows and this makes me feel better.

Pretty much just a stupid question with rare exeptions like a breeding bull or possibly a cow with a newborn calf

I'm surprised that he didn't mention that the risk increases significantly if one is walking with a dog which cows may view as a predator. It's probably not a good idea to walk with a dog through a field of cows one does not know, especially if the cows have calves. I assume that cows get used to family dogs that are around the farm all the time but even with those dogs that the cows know I wonder how the cows would react to the family dog when they have calves. I was visiting a pig farm one day and was with the farmer and his dog as we looked at a pig and her brand new piglets. The farmer said that if the dog was foolish enough to jump into the pig pen the mother pig would kill the dog. Mind you the pig pen was very small and a pasture is massive in comparison.

I'm here because I just got charged by a cow in a field. It was considerably bigger than that one approaching you. Had to be nimble on my feet and then outrun it after stepping to the side like a matador. Would recommend walking through a field of them if you're relatively fit and an adrenaline junkie.

I got pretty surprised once at a canoe trip to see my brother getting chased by cows. He went a shore to take a piss but had to run all he could because of a flock of angry cows. And they were angry for absolutely no reason and there were no calves among them.