Purbeck Products : Chris' rantings

A founder member of Purbeck Products, Christopher Lees, who has a degree in agricultural science, has farmed in Purbeck for over thirty years. His 1,200 acres of land comprise a mixture of sandy land, heath and clay.
As one of the more senior members of the cooperative, he feels the need periodically to let off steam about today's paperwork-dominated world of farming. His "rantings" are accompanied by insights into other details of farming life and the delights of Purbeck and Purbeck Products.

Killer cows? Just be careful.

I have been reminded this month about how dangerous it can be to live in the countryside. There was a sad story of Mark Evison who died from anaphylactic shock from an allergic reaction he had to wasp stings.

curious young calf bred by Cedar Organic There have been a further four other people killed this year, trampled to death by cattle. One of these was a farmer whose cattle were spooked by a fire engine siren; this stampeded the cattle back down the lane towards him. The three others were trampled while out walking, either walking with a dog or walking through a herd of cows with their calves.

Cattle are fascinated by dogs. It is probable that deep in the cow's genetic programming dogs are equated to wolves, and elicit a response, be it "fight or flight" in cattle. Young cattle are inquisitive. They will come charging across a field to take a look at who's about ... and if a dog is involved this can be even more exciting for them. They come snorting up, mill around and the ones at the back can barge the ones in the front and into contact with the hapless rambler.

Some cows are highly protective towards their calves and will actually try to attack dogs and people walking through the field. Most dogs on their own will be able to zigzag away from cattle and escape quite easily.

Young cattle are more inquisitive than malicious. They want to come up to you and smell you. They are generally more frightened of you and you of them. However, it is sometimes difficult to remember all this when a herd of young cattle come running up towards you, snort down your neck and bump into you.

cow with calf - treat with respect The thing to do then is to keep calm, you can turn towards them and wave your arms or a stick at them and shout at them in a loud authoritative voice. Even if you're in a field surrounded by cattle, they are unlikely to attack you. If you walk towards them, they will back away.

It is extremely rare to be "attacked" by farm animals.

The RSPCA's advice is to keep your distance from farm animals, and I do not believe that any landowner or farmer would be upset with a rambler taking a circuitous route round his cattle. So be aware of the livestock in the fields. Keep out of their way, especially cows with young calves. If you are in a field with cattle who are over-interested in your dog, let your dog go and do not try to protect it. Lastly keep calm, use your voice, your arms or a stick to gain control the cattle.

Farmers are very respectful of the power of a cattle beast. Most will have been knocked over by half a ton of roast beef pushing past them. However, I have always felt far more frightened walking down the narrow country lanes of Purbeck from fast travelling cars than from walking through any amount of fields with cattle in them.

If you want more advice from farmers, why not come and meet them at the Purbeck Products markets, on the 10th October, at Putlake Farm, Langton Matravers, or at Swanage Middle School on the 24th October as part of Dorset Food Week. Meet the farmers, and buy some of the best tasting food in Purbeck. And if you want to learn more you can look at this website, especially at the individual producers' pages.