How dangerous are Bulls?

[Panter]

One of my occasional local rides takes me through a field of cows and there's a large Bull in there too.

Normally, they're a fair way from the track, but on Saturday they were clumped right across it.

The Bull was getting amorous with the cows and seemed a bit agitated so I just stopped and waited for them to move.
He kind of walked towards me and then veered away and thankfully off into the field so I made good my escape (worked wonders for my cadence)

I also had a situation in Wales last year when riding a track that crossed a filed with a Bull in it.
He kept his distance but I was very nervous as I don't think he would have seen many MTBr's (it ws a remote area) and he must've weighed over 2 tonnes!

Am I just being a coward or is there a real risk with Bulls?

 

[accountantpete]

After a series of youthful near misses whilst fishing I avoid all bovine animals. Bulls are bad enough - but add on cows that have just calved and mad heifers and the whole lot are best avoided.

 

[Joe24]

As a teacher said to us not long ago when someone in the class was scared of cows.
"Cows are just stupid, they are hearding animals, and inquisitive. They will follow you around and look what your doing, but if you run up to them, chances are they will run away. Or just go, BOO, and they will probably run away, or keeping following you around"

Maybe it will work with bulls aswell

 

[Maz]

Good question. I've often wondered this myself.

Maybe this link helps. Some sections on 'what to do' scenarios.

 

[colly]

You aren't being a coward.

Dairy bulls can be dangerous and if they see you as a threat and can run at you something like 20 to 25 mph

Probably ok if he is in with cows but I wouldn't take the chance.

Maybe it will work with bulls as well

And maybe it won't.

 

[Globalti]

I'd be willing to bet that most bull incidents are merely the bull running over to see if the victim has got anything nice to eat.

...but I wouldn't want to try it!

 

[Joe24]

Be careful of bulls

 

[colly]

There you are you see. They might nick your bike!!!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I worked with bulls during my period in farming. I was given one piece of excellent advice which served me well.

"Don't trust any bull, ever."

Even the most placid beast can and will turn on you, and he doesn't give notice.

Even cows can be dangerous, particularly if they have calves or you have a dog with you. A herd of cows which to which I was stockman at the time turned on me out of the blue despite then being familar with me. I had driven a tractor through the gate into their field. Having got off the tractor to shut the gate, they crowded round between me and the tractor. When I nonchalently spoke to them and moved towards them, they lowered their heads and made towards me. Luckily I was a teenager at the time but even then I surprised myself by how high I could jump over that gate!

The crazy thing is, is that when I went back to the tractor half an hour or so later, they were back to their placid selves.

Be warned.

 

[tyred]

Definitely be careful of bulls. It's unlikely they would bother with you when they are along with cows in a field but you can never be certain. They are playful animals by nature but their idea of playing is to chase you and gore you into the ground. Also watch out for any recently calved cows as they can be worse than any bull. Certain breeds tend to be worse than others. The continental beef breeds and the typical Fresian dairy cow/bull are the worst of all in my experience.

If you regularily go through the field with them in it, they are probably used to you by now. Cattle are more likely to attack strangers. They don't like dogs either. But never trust them 100% If you must go through the field with a bull in it, carry a good strong stick and whack him directly on the nose if necessary. It's the best you can do if you can't get out of the way.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Definitely be careful of bulls. It's unlikely they would bother with you when they are along with cows in a field but you can never be certain. They are playful animals by nature but their idea of playing is to chase you and gore you into the ground. Also watch out for any recently calved cows as they can be worse than any bull. Certain breeds tend to be worse than others. The continental beef breeds and the typical Fresian dairy cow/bull are the worst of all in my experience.

If you regularily go through the field with them in it, they are probably used to you by now. Cattle are more likely to attack strangers. If you must go through the field with a bull in it, carry a good strong stick and whack him directly on the nose if necessary.[/quote]

Yep, that would be a good way to annoy him!

 

[John the Monkey]

Even the most placid beast can and will turn on you, and he doesn't give notice.

Even cows can be dangerous, particularly if they have calves or you have a dog with you. A herd of cows which to which I was stockman at the time turned on me out of the blue despite then being familar with me. I had driven a tractor through the gate into their field. Having got off the tractor to shut the gate, they crowded round between me and the tractor. When I nonchalently spoke to them and moved towards them, they lowered their heads and made towards me. Luckily I was a teenager at the time but even then I surprised myself by how high I could jump over that gate!

+1

There's lots of dairy 'round where I live, and I stay *WELL BACK* when the animals are crossing the road, and take a different route if I'm out walking and the path crosses a field with cows in it. Just too unpredictable.

 

[tyred]

The crazy thing is, is that when I went back to the tractor half an hour or so later, they were back to their placid selves.

Be warned.

That would be typical. They can get raised up very easily. You could have a herd of the quietest cattle imaginable but if you have one nervous beast with them and something sets her off, the rest will join in as well. And if they start to charge, nothing will stop them until they calm down. I even saw a bullock cross a river once.

 

[User482]

I didn't think farmers could keep bulls in fields that have a right of way through them?

 

[red_tom]

I remember reading once that bulls can run faster uphill than downhill as their front legs are shorter than their back.