[paul m]

I see that Goosey has put a nice pic of some highland cattle up ...


Cattle in general are something that worries my wife when out walking - she's concerned about being charged by a herd of them: that's just ordinary milk cows! Personally, I've never been attacked except by a herd of bullocks ... quickly retreated up a tree until they wandered off! But there are quite a lot of deaths due to people being crushed by cattle. The question, are highland cattle better or worse than other breeds? They look more threatening with the long horns, I suppose .... and certainly the numbers being released into conservation areas is increasing ...

[goosey]

I was a tad worried, they might charge. When I thought there were two and had both in my sight I was fine but when I realised there were alot more around, I was not so confident.
I am glad there was a tree handy foy you Paul - at least you could climb!

I wrote a bit in this thread about their purpose in being there.

A trip to our National Park

[paul m]

Yes, we have them in the flood meadows of the Rother where they can often be seen jousting with interlocked horns.
More commonly they're used up on the moors - partly because they're hardier than dairy cattle and are far better than sheep at keeping bracken down - in fact sheep grazing rather encourages bracken. In the Dales, Exmoor ponies seem to be the preferred grazer.

I should note that when I climbed the tree I was only about 10 - not too sure that I could do it now - although, I suppose, if desperate anything is possible!

Originally Posted by goosey

I was a tad worried, they might charge. When I thought there were two and had both in my sight I was fine but when I realised there were alot more around, I was not so confident.
I am glad there was a tree handy foy you Paul - at least you could climb!

I wrote a bit in this thread about their purpose in being there.

A trip to our National Park

[swallow]

I have seen them where my brother lives in the Highlands, indeed their horns look scary. I have always been a bit wary of big animals like carthorses and cattle formerly being a Londoner where there weren't many, but living in Wales where my neighbours cattle frequently burst out of their fields and end up outside the house eating my plants, I've got good at rounding them up and sending them on their way with yelling and a big stick. What finally made me realise that they would do as they were told was when my 3 year old shouted at them and they all ran off

[H Dogg]

Highland cattle are generally more placid than other cattle and tend to be alot more shy and gentle despite there look's. However as with most animals you will get the odd exception. There are several herds near me i often have to walk by, the only time on has every acted oddly was when i was taking photo's in an area of meadow by the field the noise of my camera seemed to freak them out causing one to go abit crazy jumping around.

[paul m]

Hello Hound (was your Mum an Elvis Presley freak?)
I must say that they always look pretty docile to me but those horns do look intimidating and, as mentioned, seeing them battling with each other (not too energetically, I have to admit) makes you wonder!

I'll be quiet when I walk by them!

Sheffield Wildlife Trust has introduced them to one of our local moors in an attempt to keep the bracken at bay. Quite a few locals have objected on the grounds that they now have to keep their dogs leashed ....
Not quite sure whether this is because they're worried about the cattle attacking the dogs or vice versa ......

QUOTE=H Dogg;2143]Highland cattle are generally more placid than other cattle and tend to be alot more shy and gentle despite there look's. However as with most animals you will get the odd exception. There are several herds near me i often have to walk by, the only time on has every acted oddly was when i was taking photo's in an area of meadow by the field the noise of my camera seemed to freak them out causing one to go abit crazy jumping around.[/quote]

[paul m]

Then again, I wouldn't want to meet this on a walk ..... Beefy bullock heading for heavyweight title - Telegraph

[goosey]

Fancy keeping something that size as a pet, and he is still growing!

I bet there was a mass sigh of relief when the local cows heard he wasn't being put out to stud .