Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => The Coffee Corner => Topic started by: dreed on June 09, 2016, 05:39:24 pm
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Today I ended up in a situation that I would rather not again but you can't always predict the future so I'll ask for advice...
In various parts of Europe, cows (& bulls) seem to roam wherever feeding on grass.
Today it so happened that I found myself in a paddock with cows (which have never caused concern) setting up my camera when a rustle in the grass drew my attention to an approaching young bull. I was completely unprepared for this, especially as his attention did not seem to want to waver (or go back to eating grass.) As I'm not very familiar with cows (aside from drinking milk and eating beef), I don't know if this is a seasonal thing or to be expected. I suspect that what it boils down to is that effectively I'm an intruder in "his" domain where "his" breeding partners are. After a bit of staring at each other, I decided that it was time to pack up and find a way out. To my benefit there was a large bunch of trees maybe 6' away, so it was a matter of working out how to pick everything up without turning my head - I considered the bull no less dangerous than a bear and with bears you never turn your back. The bull was close enough for me to give him a poke in the nose with my tripod and that was enough to get him to recoil back, leading me to flinch (complete with calf cramp) but giving me time & space to pickup things and get amongst the trees. At this point the bull watched a little while longer and then lost interest, eating his way to the other side of the field and I limped on away throught the trees, abondoning the shoot.
So I survived my stupidity (going into the field amongst them) but I'm left wondering, was I really in danger or was I just the subject of increased curiosity because cattle increasingly see humans as things that feed them, etc. Or even still, are there other things that I could have done to get out of that situation? Think no gun and I'm alone ... Is there any safe way to traverse a field with cattle in it?
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My first experience as a teenager with high hurdles involved a bull in a field that i did not see at first.... until i heard a snort behind me.
It sounds like he was just curious this time. That being said, even a cow leaning against you against something firm can do serious damage or crush something if you are not used to working them. Have a friend spot for you or take a longer lens next time.
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I was in a pub in Cape Foulwind, New Zealand. One of the locals came in most upset. A boy in his late teens had just been killed by a bull. They are not to be underestimated.
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Think no gun and I'm alone ... Is there any safe way to traverse a field with cattle in it?
You mess with the bulls you get the horns. Cows not so much.
Most everything we do is a calculated risk. You make the call. Sooner or later we are bound to step in a cow pie or two.
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On the African continent the animal regarded as the most dangerous is the Cape Buffalo.
Consider any other bovine as dangerous.
Bovines on farms are not pets, they are not domesticated, they are wild animals whose range just happens to be limited by a fence - treat them as such.
There is no doubt that the boys are more argumentative compared to the girls (no different from our species) and they tend to have much bigger horns to go with the attitude problem.
Other animals not to mess with include wild pigs and boars and, especially, their supposed domesticated cousins.
In general, one's apparent familiarity with animals does not make them safe, and since most of us are urban animals we don't really appreciate the dangers or how to avoid them.
Just as an aside nothing that I have written should be construed as suggesting people should not explore rural and wilderness areas, on any continent.
We just owe it to ourselves to be astride of the potential dangers involved.
In Australia arguably the greatest danger in the outback is simply breaking down or running out of fuel and dying before any help happens by.
Snakes, crocodiles, and sharks pale into insignificance in comparison.
So high frequency radios and satellite phones are an absolute necessity in these areas as well as water and food for many days for remote area travel in Australia.
There is more to it than that but it gives an idea of how things might differ depending where one goes.
Tony Jay
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A boy in his late teens had just been killed by a bull. They are not to be underestimated.
Cows too, at this time of year (when they're with their young).
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When my wife was in college, the mother of a good friend of hers was killed by their own bull. She had walked across that pasture every day for years with no trouble, but that day, the bull killed her. I regard domestic bulls as more dangerous than bears. Truly wild bears have a natural fear of man that domestic bulls don't have. I've had a couple of experiences with bulls. I was photographing wild turkeys from a ground blind when a heard of cows walked across in front of me. The bull was bringing up the rear of the procession. He stopped and stared into the ground blind for what seemed like an eternity. He eventually moved on with the cows and I continued my photography. Another time I was hunting deer in my own little patch of woods. A farmer who had rented the neighboring pasture had put cattle in my woods without my knowledge (and without paying pasture rent I might add.) I found myself with a tree between me and a mature bull. I was armed at the time since I was hunting deer. I thought to myself, come around this tree and I will shoot you. The bull looked me over for a while and turned away. Deer hunting was ruined so I went to find the interloping cattle owner. He had obviously put up the gates in my woods so I knew he'd done it intensionally. I told him I would wait while he moved his cattle out of my woods and if I found his bull in there again I would shoot it. Treat domestic livestock with caution and never believe they are big gentle beasts. They can kill you just as dead accidentally.
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I wouldn't take any chances with a bull, all animals are unpredictable.
Even a small Bambi (1/10th of bull's weight) can inflict a serious damage.
Here is a clip of a raging doe trying to protect her young fawn (it's like Tina Turner doing Proud Mary - it starts nice and easy and ends up rough).
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/06/21/deer-attacks-dog-in-cranbrook_n_881050.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/06/21/deer-attacks-dog-in-cranbrook_n_881050.html)
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I might add that the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. More people die every year from mosquito borne disease than from any or all other wild animals.
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I might add that the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. More people die every year from mosquito borne disease than from any or all other wild animals.
Aren't most people killed by the actions of other people?
But bulls are temperamental and can switch behavior at any instant. Cows (depending on breed) with a calf might get protective, so just be careful to not get in between them. I'd avoid most bulls.
Cheers,
Bart
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But bulls are temperamental and can switch behavior at any instant. Cows (depending on breed) with a calf might get protective, so just be careful to not get in between them. I'd avoid most bulls.
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Yes, this is what had me concerned. In the end it seemed like a poke in the nose made it back off but you really don't know what it is thinking or if it will shy away and go back to what's important or decide it is feeling bored and that you represent "fun" or a chance to "show off."
As I was working my way through the trees, a number of cows went scrambling down the pasture. Back up further I could see what appeared to be a couple of bulls staring each other down (I didn't see anything happen or hear and nor did I hang around to see what was going to happen.)
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I might add that the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. More people die every year from mosquito borne disease than from any or all other wild animals.
Well, if a mosquito bites the bull in some sensitive place not protected by the hide, it could make the bull really angry.
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A lot more important than learning to handle bulls is learning to handle bullshit. We all seem to have trouble with that, and it can kill us all.
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A lot more important than learning to handle bulls is learning to handle bullshit. We all seem to have trouble with that, and it can kill us all.
Especially when it comes to casting votes... I feel as if my future is hanging on the mindless whim of people back in Britain; people who often don't ask questions, see only the things pointed out and only as they are pointed out... why? Because, in general, there is little interest in anything beyond the parochial. Consider the news services and shudder at how limited the broader picture presented.
I used to watch Sky News every morning with breakfast, then discovered France 24 (in English!) and the difference is amazing. Yes, the French thing seems to operate on a lower budget, does lots of repeats, unfortunately, but at least does force one's nose outwith what would be local scene for the natural viewer - France. So much going down everywhere, and Sky-only viewers would never know... Can't comment on the Beeb anymore - the dish can't catch it - and I don't want Internet in even bigger doses - I leave the Internet for special programmes other than the news.
Scary days!
Rob
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Not to veer off-topic too much, but the will of the majority is always wrong and even evil when it doesn't do what we want, but possesses the wisdom of the ages when it agrees with us.
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I might add that the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. More people die every year from mosquito borne disease than from any or all other wild animals.
Right, David. And we once had a solution to this problem: DDT. Then Rachel Carson, an "environmental advocate" who was worried about birds not being able to reproduce (which, as it turns out isn't necessarily true) wrote Silent Spring. The left leapt into action and banned DDT. As a result, now, instead of keeping birds from reproducing we're killing massive numbers of people, especially in countries that can't afford other kinds of protection. It's a typical example of government intelligence and efficiency.
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Not to veer off-topic too much, but 1. the will of the majority is always wrong and even evil when it doesn't do what we want, but 2. possesses the wisdom of the ages when it agrees with us.
This can be absolutely true, both ways, depending on the type of majority one's talking about.
1. When you lump the entire population into a single, voting mass, on pretty much anything I can think about, the chance of that lump voting the 'right' way is slim; once in a while it gets it right, as much by charm offensive from the protagonists seeking the votes, as any argument they might forward.
I think this is borne out in general elections, for example, where successive left and then right governments have replaced one another fairly regularly. That their sentiments and policies ever change very much is not real; all that changes is the face presented to the voting public. Scratch the surface and the same beast bites you after picking your pocket.
2. Sometimes, within a peer grouping, the vote will be correct, because it will probably be based more upon dispassionate and clinical judgements.
In effect, democracy is still not a very good way of deciding anything, but we don't really have another working solution that excludes dictatorships and even worse circumstances hitting us all. It's not even as if education was going to solve it; you get as many lefties as righties in universities as anywhere else, but that may well be the product of youthful 'revolt' for some, or even of social/background grudge/prejudice on the part of others.
I really think that unless we reach a point where pretty much everyone earns the same salary, fiscal considerations will always divide people. There are those who don't earn much; those who earn a lot, and those who do as little as possible but want to share the goodies that the hard-working people sometimes earn. How can they vote with similar ethical points of view?
We'd have to begin with the losing of envy and the abolishment of greed. Impossible.
Rob
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I might add that the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. More people die every year from mosquito borne disease than from any or all other wild animals.
Ok, and how does that relate to the topic of dealing with bulls in fields? Would you like to start another thread about vaccinations for malaria, etc, when traveling to parts of the world that are at risk for photography?
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Ok, and how does that relate to the topic of dealing with bulls in fields? Would you like to start another thread about vaccinations for malaria, etc, when traveling to parts of the world that are at risk for photography?
Well, if a mosquito bites the bull in some sensitive place not protected by the hide, it could make the bull really angry.
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Ok, and how does that relate to the topic of dealing with bulls in fields? Would you like to start another thread about vaccinations for malaria, etc, when traveling to parts of the world that are at risk for photography?
Lets not be too harsh on David.
Perhaps it is my bad for generalising the issue and taking it beyond merely being chased around by bulls in Europe.
So, humble apologies.
Tony Jay
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Tony,
"On the African continent the animal regarded as the most dangerous is the Cape Buffalo". Or maybe…
"Although hippos may look cute and friendly, they are definitely one animal you do not want to cross. Easily frightened and extremely aggressive, hippos will not hesitate to attack a human, especially if one of its young babies are near. Hippos pose the biggest threat to those living in the continent of Africa.
Death Toll: 300+ per year
See more here (http://www.animaldanger.com/most-dangerous-animals.php#sthash.ReYrBXgy.dpuf).
Cheers,
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Your topic veers off to politics and you single me out? Good call. I posted appropriate information about domestic bulls. Maybe you missed that.
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Lets not be too harsh on David.
Perhaps it is my bad for generalising the issue and taking it beyond merely being chased around by bulls in Europe.
It wasn't just that that irked me, does everything need to involve politics? FFS (DDT & Sky news) .... it's just that his post got the reply.
To not beat around the bush, the most dangerous animal on the planet is the homo sapien - unless there is another that has developed the capability to at will wipe out most living life? But where does talk about that get us aside from another rat hole?
The challenge is how do we survive situations such as being face to face with animals that are much bigger than us? I'm going to assume that the Crocodile Dundee trick of two fingers is just a movie stunt. For example, if you read up on bears on NPS for Yosemite, the recommended course of action in that scenario is to be loud and obnoxious (because bears are cowards.) Does the same work with other animals, such as bulls?
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No. Domestic bulls have lost their fear of humans. They retain their wild disposition, but no longer fear man. You have to keep your awareness about you and try to keep an appropriate obsticle close that you can put between you and the bull.
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... the recommended course of action in that scenario is to be loud and obnoxious
I thought, we were not supposed to mention politics. :)
When it comes to best tactics how to avoid a bear, it depends on the bear species.
From what I've read, if is is a black bear, you are supposed to make a lot of noise, and if he gets really close or into your tent, you should beat him with a rock or some log, With grizzlies, the general consensus is that you should slowly retreat or play dead. However, those sources also state that the recommended methods apply only for non-predatory bears.
Two years ago, a hiker in Denali was quietly observing and photographing a grizzly at a distance of 40 yards, when something (camera shutter, maybe?) spooked the bear and in no time (13 seconds, judging from the image timestamps), he sprinted and permanently silenced the shooter. In Ontario, I had some close encounters with black bears (once a female bear crossed a hiking trail just a few meters if front of me) and several times in a canoe or fishing boat coming unexpectedly upon juvenile and male bears exploring the rocky shores. Fortunately, they all scampered away without any incident.
With a raging bull, I would take off my jacket, and improvise some bold torero moves while simultaneously retreating to the safety of some trees or other sturdy objects.
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Right, David. And we once had a solution to this problem: DDT. Then Rachel Carson, an "environmental advocate" who was worried about birds not being able to reproduce (which, as it turns out isn't necessarily true) wrote Silent Spring. The left leapt into action and banned DDT. As a result, now, instead of keeping birds from reproducing we're killing massive numbers of people, especially in countries that can't afford other kinds of protection. It's a typical example of government intelligence and efficiency.
This is simplistic. Look here (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/how-silent-spring-ignited-the-environmental-movement.html?_r=0) for a balanced account of what happened. DDT wasn't banned in the USA until 8 years after Carson's death, and continued to be manufactured in India and China until well into the 21st Century. Carson wasn't a fan of more federal regulation. And the return of malaria around the world was not caused by the banning of DDT in the USA. There are complicated stories here which have been mythologised both on the left and on the right. The only unequivocal conclusions I am inclined to draw from my own limited knowledge of them are about the law of unintended consequences, and the need for more research. It does give me some comfort that Bill and Melinda are on the case.
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Fences are great for protecting you from cattle.
Brangus cattle at Arthur Boyd's Bundanon. (http://www.tombrown.id.au/eclectic/brangus/album/index.html)
Cheers,
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Nice shots. Capturing well the wildness and scariness of cattle.
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It wasn't just that that irked me, does everything need to involve politics? FFS (DDT & Sky news) .... it's just that his post got the reply.
To not beat around the bush, the most dangerous animal on the planet is the homo sapien - unless there is another that has developed the capability to at will wipe out most living life? But where does talk about that get us aside from another rat hole?
The challenge is how do we survive situations such as being face to face with animals that are much bigger than us? I'm going to assume that the Crocodile Dundee trick of two fingers is just a movie stunt. For example, if you read up on bears on NPS for Yosemite, the recommended course of action in that scenario is to be loud and obnoxious (because bears are cowards.) Does the same work with other animals, such as bulls?
I have to agree with David here.
Bravado will often scare off most animals - including African big cats - however, even if a bull retreats initially I would not regard the situation as sorted. The moment one lets one's guard down (and even if one does not) an aggressive bull will often charge again.
The stock market analogy describing the behaviour of investors does not use the bear and the bull as examples for nothing.
Tony Jay
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Tony,
"On the African continent the animal regarded as the most dangerous is the Cape Buffalo". Or maybe…
"Although hippos may look cute and friendly, they are definitely one animal you do not want to cross. Easily frightened and extremely aggressive, hippos will not hesitate to attack a human, especially if one of its young babies are near. Hippos pose the biggest threat to those living in the continent of Africa.
Death Toll: 300+ per year
See more here (http://www.animaldanger.com/most-dangerous-animals.php#sthash.ReYrBXgy.dpuf).
Cheers,
Tom I agree entirely with you that Hippos are dangerous.
If one is on or in the water and there are hippos with young nearby then there is definite danger from aggressive hippos attacking one.
Outside the water, on land, there is still plenty of danger if hippos are close by, however in this case fatalities are usually due to blind panic on the part of the hippo - one just gets, literally, run over by the hippo as its makes for the water at best pace.
This is not aggression; the hippo is just rushing to get to the safety of the water.
Either way of course they do kill.
Cape buffalo, on the other hand, never kill by default.
Their aggression, mean spirit, and persistence are legendary.
They are known to deliberately "hunt" an adversary including tactics such as circling back and ambush.
This is extraordinary behaviour from a species that is a herbivore!
In general Africa is full of potentially very dangerous animals.
Crocodiles are also responsible for plenty of fatalities.
Venomous snakes are likely responsible tens to hundreds of thousands of deaths per annum in Africa.
This is mainly due to a lack of healthcare and access to appropriate antivenins.
However, as has already been pointed out, the Anopheline mosquito is the biggest killer in Africa being responsible for the spread of malaria, Yellow fever, and Dengue fever. Combined with poor healthcare the result is absolute carnage, particularly in the under-five age group.
Tony Jay
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My niece, Zoe is a dairy farmer.
We walked out into one of the fields on her farm to see her new Aberdeen Angus & a couple of dozen cows ran towards us & surrounded us. Normally I'd have run like hell ( I'm a confirmed townie - even more so after spending a few years living in rural areas ) but Zoe know cows so I stayed out with her & tried to get some photos. It was quite a powerful experience being surrounded by such large animals, the fact that dusk was falling added to the atmosphere.
I asked her how you should deal with cows: She said that cows on their own shouldn't be a problem - just stay relaxed & you should be OK. If they come towards you they're probably just curious ( as were the ones which had surrounded us ). Re cows with calves, keep away from the calves - move towards the cows if you can't get away completely. Of course if you have a dog with you this can change everything.
Bulls - carry a stick.
Some pix of Splodge, Zoe's favourite cow. This one was an absolute sweetie, very friendly & curious.
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Yes, dogs are frequently the trigger.
76 people killed by cows in the UK in the last 15 years:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cows-officially-the-most-deadly-large-animals-in-britain-a6727266.html
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This is simplistic. Look here (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/how-silent-spring-ignited-the-environmental-movement.html?_r=0) for a balanced account of what happened. DDT wasn't banned in the USA until 8 years after Carson's death, and continued to be manufactured in India and China until well into the 21st Century. Carson wasn't a fan of more federal regulation. And the return of malaria around the world was not caused by the banning of DDT in the USA. There are complicated stories here which have been mythologised both on the left and on the right. The only unequivocal conclusions I am inclined to draw from my own limited knowledge of them are about the law of unintended consequences, and the need for more research. It does give me some comfort that Bill and Melinda are on the case.
You're right, Ken. Actually I compressed the history -- sort of slammed it shut. But the world got there and it's paying the price for this kind of stupidity.
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The bovine race is getting a bad press today; I wouldn't trust a friggin' horse either, never mind a field full of them! Not only do they kick, they can crush and also bite.
Rob C
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I hope you didn't tell him about the beef eating.
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I hope you didn't tell him about the beef eating.
The horse? He'd probably think it a good idea instead of being on the menu himself, as in some non-Brit parts of Europe...
Oh well, tomorrow's Sunday, so paella, if all goes well. No meat in there, apart from prawns. However, as I'm on a varnishing kick, perhaps it won't smell or taste as normal. (Of course, the varnish is for the shutters, not the prawns, even though it is marine varnish. I'm a bit late with it this year - I was tossing up with neglecting it or doing it this time, and in the end, conscience won. How strange.)
Rob
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I chatted with someone that grew up on a farm today and their advice was "stand your ground." Don't move, just stand there and stare at the bull. If you run, you're a goner. Eventually they will get bored and walk away. Carrying a stick (or tripod!) is also useful. I must say that standing your ground is easier said than done!
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I chatted with someone that grew up on a farm today and their advice was "stand your ground." Don't move, just stand there and stare at the bull. If you run, you're a goner. Eventually they will get bored and walk away. Carrying a stick (or tripod!) is also useful. I must say that standing your ground is easier said than done!
Just think of Ava Gardner, and die happy.
Rob C
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Just think of Ava Gardner, and die happy.
Correct Rob, I don't think that monopod will impress the bull ...
Cheers,
Bart
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Correct Rob, I don't think that monopod will impress the bull ...
Cheers,
Bart
Bovine envy is a sad thing; I'd have imagined the farmyard to be beyond it.
;-)
Rob
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This is a fun thread:) I have learned, since my days in the university as a field geologist, to learn how to handle:
1. Farm or rural property owners
2. Cows and bulls
Number 1 above can be dangerous, since they have no clue of why you should be walking on their land. The often have a shotgun too.
Number 2 above can also be dangerous, of course. One way to mitigate the danger is to inform number 1 and elicit some help:)
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How to handle bulls when on a shoot?
Oh, that's easy. Here, all you have to do:
1. Pick a small bull,
2. Pick a big (long) lens.
Done. As long as you follow my expert advice, you should be fine...
Free master class:
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Too much cute, Zorki5. :D
In the USA, dumb tourists get out of their cars to pet the bison at Yellowstone. PET the BISON. This is a Darwin award story waiting to happen. Bison bull is to domestic bull as Humvee is to Toyota compact. We have a local park with a few bison, it's roll down the car window and shoot from the car, watching carefully for signs of tension in the animal and being ready to drop the camera in your lap and floor it out of there.
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Today I ended up in a situation that I would rather not again but you can't always predict the future so I'll ask for advice...
In various parts of Europe, cows (& bulls) seem to roam wherever feeding on grass.
Today it so happened that I found myself in a paddock with cows (which have never caused concern) setting up my camera when a rustle in the grass drew my attention to an approaching young bull. I was completely unprepared for this, especially as his attention did not seem to want to waver (or go back to eating grass.) As I'm not very familiar with cows (aside from drinking milk and eating beef), I don't know if this is a seasonal thing or to be expected. I suspect that what it boils down to is that effectively I'm an intruder in "his" domain where "his" breeding partners are. After a bit of staring at each other, I decided that it was time to pack up and find a way out. To my benefit there was a large bunch of trees maybe 6' away, so it was a matter of working out how to pick everything up without turning my head - I considered the bull no less dangerous than a bear and with bears you never turn your back. The bull was close enough for me to give him a poke in the nose with my tripod and that was enough to get him to recoil back, leading me to flinch (complete with calf cramp) but giving me time & space to pickup things and get amongst the trees. At this point the bull watched a little while longer and then lost interest, eating his way to the other side of the field and I limped on away throught the trees, abondoning the shoot.
So I survived my stupidity (going into the field amongst them) but I'm left wondering, was I really in danger or was I just the subject of increased curiosity because cattle increasingly see humans as things that feed them, etc. Or even still, are there other things that I could have done to get out of that situation? Think no gun and I'm alone ... Is there any safe way to traverse a field with cattle in it?
First things first, are you sure it was a bull? It may well have been a male but castrated, usually known as a bullock or a steer in these parts. Not much to worry about there and if it got close enough for you to poke without charging then I guess it was such a beast and merely being inquisitive. Problems can arise when a group stampedes but that is a herd reaction rather than a deliberate attack upon another animal (you).
Secondly, if a bull is in with cows then they are usually fairly quite but there are so many variables involved that there is no guarantee about that. Breed is the major factor here with Herefords tending to being docile while channel Island breeds like the Jersey are never let out of their pen due to being right mean b'stards!
Cows are usually very docile indeed, problematic animals are weeded out of herds and temperament is often a factor in breeding decisions. The exception is when with newborn calves when they can be aggressive but just so long as you steer clear you'll have no problems.
One further tip is that if bulls are old enough to be aggressive (about 8 months onwards, there is no hard and fast rule) you will not see two together in the same field but it's still worth counting the dangly bits; one means its a bullock, two means it's a bull and four indicates its a cow.
All this relates to farming in the UK and Ireland and it may be different where you are, but whatever the location a lowered head waved from side to side, regular snorting and pawing the ground are signs that you best make yourself scarce!
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A couple I took last week for a farm supply company.
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Today I ended up in a situation that I would rather not again but you can't always predict the future so I'll ask for advice...
In various parts of Europe, cows (& bulls) seem to roam wherever feeding on grass.
Today it so happened that I found myself in a paddock with cows (which have never caused concern) setting up my camera when a rustle in the grass drew my attention to an approaching young bull. I was completely unprepared for this, especially as his attention did not seem to want to waver (or go back to eating grass.) As I'm not very familiar with cows (aside from drinking milk and eating beef), I don't know if this is a seasonal thing or to be expected. I suspect that what it boils down to is that effectively I'm an intruder in "his" domain where "his" breeding partners are. After a bit of staring at each other, I decided that it was time to pack up and find a way out. To my benefit there was a large bunch of trees maybe 6' away, so it was a matter of working out how to pick everything up without turning my head - I considered the bull no less dangerous than a bear and with bears you never turn your back. The bull was close enough for me to give him a poke in the nose with my tripod and that was enough to get him to recoil back, leading me to flinch (complete with calf cramp) but giving me time & space to pickup things and get amongst the trees. At this point the bull watched a little while longer and then lost interest, eating his way to the other side of the field and I limped on away throught the trees, abondoning the shoot.
So I survived my stupidity (going into the field amongst them) but I'm left wondering, was I really in danger or was I just the subject of increased curiosity because cattle increasingly see humans as things that feed them, etc. Or even still, are there other things that I could have done to get out of that situation? Think no gun and I'm alone ... Is there any safe way to traverse a field with cattle in it?
Hello dreed,
Well... I use to live in a very rural environment. When I give up retouching in the dark I go take care of my horses, not simple horses but Breton horse around a tone. They gentle but sometimes violent and can kill you very easily especially when aroused.
Here is Belem in "reproduction mode". We do it natural and it is dangerous.
(http://www.hulyssbowman.com/Savings/Belem.jpg)
I use also to help my neighbour when he needs helps with his cows. There is one rule : The bulls are less dangerous than the cows. They are dangerous when aroused like all animal of this order but generally bulls in field are non violent and selected for. If a bull is violent he is killed quickly and not breed. The farmers make a rigorous selection also on the comportment of the animals (like with horses). So generally bulls are meat and balls on legs. They are gentle. The cows are gentle but more vicious and can be violent if their is calf in the field so you might watch out if there is calf first.
When in field, if you think they are too close and start to pee in your pants, then scream and use a wooden stick. You should mimic their master. If those are semi wild cows like in US they are used to fear their master on a horse. Then you must use a Pocket Airhorn. Trust me he will brake like front a fire and run his ass off.
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Lina, Nanda and the others
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Lina, Nanda and the others
Are they Swiss Browns or a local breed? They certainly look at home up there.
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Are they Swiss Browns or a local breed? They certainly look at home up there.
They are italian "Razza Bruna" (Braunvieh), originally born in Switzerland thousand years ago. According to the swiss site "Braunvieh/Razza bruna" http://homepage.braunvieh.ch/xml_1/internet/en/intro.cfm (http://homepage.braunvieh.ch/xml_1/internet/en/intro.cfm)
there are three breeds of Braunvieh:
"Swiss Original Braunvieh: 100% full blood pedigree; dual purpose breed
Swiss Braunvieh: different degree of mating; dual purpose with strong emphasis on milk performance
Brown Swiss: Braunvieh reared in the US; milk breed"
"In the late 1960s the demand for higher milk performance and larger-framed cattle increased. In order to achieve these traits more rapidly, many Braunvieh cattle breeders used American Brown Swiss genetics in their mating programs. Staunch Braunvieh breeders, instead, insisted on pure breeding. They improved milk performance through a rigorous selection within the OB population while strictly preserving the beef attitude."
I think Lina and Nanda are (more or less) of the second breed, "Swiss Braunvieh", with a a part of the blood coming (more or less) from the american Brown Swiss. But they could be even more "Original". The local breeders have regular business relations with the swiss breeders (even with the "staunchest" ).
Here a photo of the owner.
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They are italian "Razza Bruna" (Braunvieh), originally born in Switzerland thousand years ago. According to the swiss site "Braunvieh/Razza bruna" http://homepage.braunvieh.ch/xml_1/internet/en/intro.cfm (http://homepage.braunvieh.ch/xml_1/internet/en/intro.cfm)
there are three breeds of Braunvieh:
"Swiss Original Braunvieh: 100% full blood pedigree; dual purpose breed
Swiss Braunvieh: different degree of mating; dual purpose with strong emphasis on milk performance
Brown Swiss: Braunvieh reared in the US; milk breed"
"In the late 1960s the demand for higher milk performance and larger-framed cattle increased. In order to achieve these traits more rapidly, many Braunvieh cattle breeders used American Brown Swiss genetics in their mating programs. Staunch Braunvieh breeders, instead, insisted on pure breeding. They improved milk performance through a rigorous selection within the OB population while strictly preserving the beef attitude."
I think Lina and Nanda are (more or less) of the second breed, "Swiss Braunvieh", with a a part of the blood coming (more or less) from the american Brown Swiss. But they could be even more "Original". The local breeders have regular business relations with the swiss breeders (even with the "staunchest" ).
Here a photo of the owner.
It makes a pleasant change to see the higher passes of the alps portrayed as an agricultural area. As a general rule we only see it them as a series of ski resorts or backdrops to advertisements and highly implausible thrillers. The fact that they have an alternative existence away from the glamour associated with them is refreshing and really quite touching, and thanks for bringing us those views.
Interesting what you say about the breed, after a while there is so much intermingling of the strains that differentiation between them becomes almost meaningless other than an indication of what their attributes and performance might be. The same happened with Holstein and Frisian breeds in the UK. It was basically the same Dutch breed but the UK farmers developed it as dual purpose animal while on the continent it was bred purely for milk production which led to larger beasts less suited for beef production. Now the two breeds are once again treated as one and the same although there is a smaller Frisian type that some farmers prefer while others go all out for Holstein milk machines.
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Hello dreed,
Well... I use to live in a very rural environment. When I give up retouching in the dark I go take care of my horses, not simple horses but Breton horse around a tone. They gentle but sometimes violent and can kill you very easily especially when aroused.
Here is Belem in "reproduction mode". We do it natural and it is dangerous.
(http://www.hulyssbowman.com/Savings/Belem.jpg)
I use also to help my neighbour when he needs helps with his cows. There is one rule : The bulls are less dangerous than the cows. They are dangerous when aroused like all animal of this order but generally bulls in field are non violent and selected for. If a bull is violent he is killed quickly and not breed. The farmers make a rigorous selection also on the comportment of the animals (like with horses). So generally bulls are meat and balls on legs. They are gentle. The cows are gentle but more vicious and can be violent if their is calf in the field so you might watch out if there is calf first.
When in field, if you think they are too close and start to pee in your pants, then scream and use a wooden stick. You should mimic their master. If those are semi wild cows like in US they are used to fear their master on a horse. Then you must use a Pocket Airhorn. Trust me he will brake like front a fire and run his ass off.
That's a fine horse and the conformation is so different from what would find favour over here where a much squarer and less 'padded' look is preferred for the draught animals.
In our horse keeping days we had one mare that kicked a clean, neatly defined hole in the shape of a hoof through a sheet of 12mm plywood. Should anyone have been unlucky enough to have been on the receiving end of that they I doubt they would have lived to tell us about it.
Ireland is still a very horse orientated country and I've also attached a photo taken at show I was covering yesterday. .
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These guys couldn't be bothered to hassle anyone.
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These guys couldn't be bothered to hassle anyone.
Them's shaggy cows with horns! :)
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Beware the staring ones:)
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To bring things back on topic I have had a couple of scary encounters over the years with open range cattle and bulls. Usually there are only cows or steers but occasionally a bull is among them. Once on my mountain bike in a canyon I have a face-off with one where I tried to get my companions to help intimidate the bull into backing down so we could get through. We waved arms and yelled and approached with bikes held high but then when the bull started tossing its head and pawing the ground my friends back off leaving me standing there not immediately realizing I no longer had a posse! The bull never charged but also never backed down and we had to scramble up the side of the canyon to get around him. It was a long scratchy tick-filled climb carrying bikes. Not fun!
My advice is give them plenty of respect. Sounds like you handled it well except for being aware of him to begin with.
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I've learned something about cattle, here!
And I'm reminded of an old cartoon:
tourist guy in field (w/bovine resident) asks a nearby farmer, "Is this bull safe?" and gets the reply "He's a darn sight safer than you!"
;D