Any tips for shooing cows?

[snedger]

Did a very long walk yesterday and so crossed more fields than usual.
Not normally worried about cattle, but in 4 of the 5 cattle occupied fields, the cows were not easily put off and kept running at me until each time, about every 15 steps, I made myself look bigger with my arms stretched out wide, clapped my hands and shouted until I just about lost my voice.
BTW there were no calves - these were just curious cattle, that were just getting worrying close, at a worrying speed - I did not want to find out what would happen if they caught up with me and I did not want them barring my way out of the field.
The shouting was more tiring than the walk.
Anyone got any suggestions for putting off cattle?
Cheers

[peterb]

I think it is just curiosity. Unless they have calves with em, cows are fairly harmless and if you ignore them, they get bored and go back to grazing.

I had a similar experience with some horses out in the wild. Scary as about ten of them came charging down a hill and started circling, but they just wanted to see what was happening. I ignored them and they eventually went away.

Any farmers or stockmen here may have better advice of course!

(Read this initially as shooting cows... )

[excalibur2]

Well I know exactly how you feel and when cows walk towards me, I give them the benefit of the doubt thinking that they think I'm the farmer...but I still don't trust them. In one walk there was a herd of cows blocking my way across a public footpath, so I started to walk around them and they followed, eventually I ended up in the corner of the field blocked with no way out...well I tried not looking at them hoping they would get bored and move away but they didn't move...well after about 20mins I got so fed up which caused me to be a bit brave that I just walk towards them and they moved out of the way LOL...but I still don't trust them.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Bring a Moose with you.

[virtuo]

Taking a compact air horn may or may not be effective.

I've never had any issues with just walking past/near them. They are intimidating just with their size, but I don't think they'd know how to "attack" even if they wanted to. Just watch the back legs!

[MrRockliffe]

(Read this initially as shooting cows... )

So did I!

[Theflapjackking]

Wear a red t-shirt!

[excalibur2]

...and don't take a dog with you if they have calves as walkers have been killed by being trampled on..probably to get at the dog.

[KeyboardDemon]

lol. I thought the title said 'shooting' and was about to ask why you'd want to.

[excalibur2]

lol. I thought the title said 'shooting' and was about to ask why you'd want to.

I've taken shots of cows with my camera

[Macman]

Think the majority of us are reading this as if it's "Any tips for SHOOTING cows" lol.

I think to disperse cows, one need to make themselve big? and make noises?

[MrRockliffe]

Clearly I play too many shooters...

[Bluecube]

The cows were likely hoping to be fed. So long as there were no calves about you would've been ok. When crossing a field you should always walk around the fence rather than straight across. And if there's a bull in there don't even think about getting into the field...

[excalibur2]

The cows were likely hoping to be fed. So long as there were no calves about you would've been ok. When crossing a field you should always walk around the fence rather than straight across. And if there's a bull in there don't even think about getting into the field...

Don't you mean milked but I suppose in winter time it could be "fed".

[Bluecube]

In winter time most cattle are kept indoors. Most dairy cattle will head to the milking parlour when they know they're due to be milked - they'll just ignore strangers most of the time. From the OPs description the cattle sound more like beef cattle and so would be hoping to be fed...

[TAKTAK]

Depends on the particular herd; some want feed, some want a tickle, and in rare cases some may be aggressive. Their body language is usually fairly easy to read.

If they have calves, stay away. If you have dogs, keep them under control at all times to avoid them legitimately getting shot...