How dangerous are Bulls?

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Maizie

Guru
Location
NE Hertfordshire
User482 said:
I didn't think farmers could keep bulls in fields that have a right of way through them?
You can't keep a LONE bull in a field that has a public right of way through it.
But I'm pretty sure you can keep a bunch of cows + a bull, or a group of young-lad-bulls wherever you want.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Just big buggers stay clear. Getting stuck on a club run, with £xxxx's of bike under you, and a herd walking past was an experience - now't happened, but these things are rather heavy....
 

dellzeqq

pre-talced and mighty
Location
SW2
As above. Dairy bulls are not nice, although if they're getting jiggy with the cows they've probably got more on their minds than killing cyclists. Herefords have a reputation for placidity, but they are big - and people have been trampled by herds of inquisitive heifers, who don't have an axe to grind when it comes to the sexual territory stakes.

And boars. Avoid. And if one comes toward you with its head held up, particularly if it's frothing at the mouth, get yo' buns out of the way as soon as. If the worst comes to the worst grab hold of the tail and hold on for dear life. Sows can be tricky if they have small piglets around, but they don't go looking for a fight.
 
I was cycling through a forest in Holland last year and came across a small herd cows across the track.
I decided that as I was having such a nice time on the bike I'd find a longer route back.

Absolutely nothing to do with the very big hairy cows with very big pointy horns.
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
Just carry one of these in your rucsac:

muletas.jpg
 
OP
OP
Panter

Panter

Just call me Chris...
Thanks for the advice all :smile: and thanks for that link Maz, some useful stuff there.

I've been doing some more Googling. Apparently it is legal to keep a Bull where there is a public right of way but only if with cows (subject to age/breed restrictions.)
There doesn't appear to be very many cases of Bulls actually attacking the public, although it's hard to weed out all the pitbull dog attack type stories.

I think I'll continue to cross fields that contain Bulls,but if they're close to the path then I'll wait untill they've moved away.
It's worth knowing that cows with calves can be dangerous, I hadn't realised that and most of the cows on my local jaunt have calves with them.

Maybe I need to carry an old McDonals wrapper with me to wave as a reminder of our respective places in the food chain :smile:
 
U

User482

Guest
Maizie said:
You can't keep a LONE bull in a field that has a public right of way through it.
But I'm pretty sure you can keep a bunch of cows + a bull, or a group of young-lad-bulls wherever you want.

Ah right, cheers.

I did get chased by a bull once. I legged it and tried to jump the gate. I would have made it were it not for the 30lb rucksack I was carrying - as a result, I landed on my crotch straight on the top of the gate, and have been an octave higher ever since.
 
OP
OP
Panter

Panter

Just call me Chris...
Keith Oates said:
Another reason I like being a roadie, there are not too many bulls or cows with calf on a main road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, but I'm not sure which I'd feel safer tangling with, an angry Bull or a company executive in his Range Rover :o)
 

Arch

Married to Night Train
Location
Salford, UK
red_tom said:
I remember reading once that bulls can run faster uphill than downhill as their front legs are shorter than their back.

I think they, indeed most hooved animals, find it harder to go downhill, thanks to their limb anatomy. I heard a story once from a colleague in Orkney, of a cow that wandering into a cottage that had had the fornt door left open. It managed to get up the stairs, but then couldn't get back down again and was discovered in a bedroom.

It's probably worth just having a healthy respect for any large or medium domesticate. Even a ram can be fairly formidable if it wants to make a point at you. It's a good thing to try and avoid surprising any large animal. If they see and hear you coming, most will just move away.

And pigs - well, if they get you helpless on the ground, remember, they will eat you... It's the main reason not to feel guilty about bacon - given half a chance, they'd have you for lunch!
 

tyred

Squire
Location
Ireland
Pigs can be particularily vicious. A local butcher was attached and killed by a boar he was trying to slaughter a few years ago.

Most animals will animals will attack humans if cornered. Badgers can be quite dangerous.
 
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