What would you do if.....

[ffamom]

What would you do if a cow/bull was attacking you? I know prevention is the best measure, but attacks are still going to happen.

During a shark attack you punch them and bears you play dead. You hear about attacks, and I myself have been pounded into the ground, but I can't find any articles on the best way to end the attack.

How would you save your life?

 

[john250]

I would hope that a rodeo clown was close.

 

[Howdyjabo]

For one trying to run you down.......
Ever watch a bull fighter--
Stand your ground and wait for the last second then side step it and roll so you are facing it again.
It works if you time it right- most of the time they don't bother to turn around and try again.

One thats right on you- pray

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

Rules To Avoid Getting Killed by Bull:

1. Stay out of their pasture or area.
2. Have a .40 or .45 S-A handgun holstered at side.
3. SSS
4. Re-read Rule #1

;-)

 

[Hippie Rancher]

If you don't usually do a lot of yelling when you work them standing your ground and yelling loudly with a lifted arms jump right at them will work. If they are immune because there is always a lot of yelling this is not as effective. A 2 x 4 to the nose will work with most cows, I don't get into positions where I would need to try this on a grown bull, suspect it might make them madder.

If in pens or corrals I make sure I can climb up and over if at all possible and if an animal is aggressive I stay near that spot as much as possible. Often if you just get up one or two rails that will make you seem tall and big enough to make them back off.

 

[cattleluvr18]

grab their nose. you know, as if your fingers were a ring in there nose? gosh i suck at explaining things. :oops:

 

[glover36]

nose or a swat in the eyes stops them

 

[Howdyjabo]

Hubby has a big oak stick- if one is trying to get him he'll make it charge him-side step it and bring that stick down right behind the ears. It'll drop them right down to the ground- when they do get up they have a whole new attitude.
My problem is that I can barely lift the stick let alone swing it. Plus I think you need the height advantage to get the right leverage.

I work on never getting myself into a situation I can't climb out of.
It doesn't always work
Someday I'll tell the story of sitting in a tree for four hours- with the four wheeler running the whole time :)

 

[dun]

I discovered that when a cow getsa you down and starts pounding you it's best to just roll away as far and as fast as you can. Eventually she'll give up and just watch. Until you stand up When she gets you down that time it takes a lot longer for her to lose interest.

 

[bigbull338]

always havw a way to get away from them if at all possable.an if not just try to keep moving.i try to never put myself in the position of having to get away from them fast.

 

[Miss Daisy]

i have a border collie to protect me :D he is too old to work cows but stay right by my side and if someone get too close he backs them up. he has gotten me out of a couple situations

 

[Keren]

What would you do if a cow/bull was attacking you? I know prevention is the best measure, but attacks are still going to happen.

During a shark attack you punch them and bears you play dead. You hear about attacks, and I myself have been pounded into the ground, but I can't find any articles on the best way to end the attack.

How would you save your life?

Sorta depends on what you mean by "attacking you".

If it is still at the threatening stage, I adhere to the 2 X 4 attitude, or jumping up and down, waving arms and yelling.

If its at the 'coming at you a million miles an hour from the other side of the paddock', well, I know from experience that I tend to do the dumb thing. I run like he11.

If its at the stage where its already got you on the ground (been there done that unfortunately) I roll like he11 to the nearest thing I can get under. When I've had to, its always been in the yards and let me tell you I can fit through the narrowest bars when I need to . . . :lol:

Like you said, prevention is everything, but sooner or later its gonna happen. Its an occupational hazard.

Howdyjabo and dun have good ideas, though. I like em.

 

[donnaIL]

If one comes at me (I carry a stick and have a dog)...I yell scream and sometimes even run towards them..If it looks scarry --they don't back off..i get down/or out and look for cover behind a tree or something.

Like dun said if they get you down...id stay there and look for a way out. only had one get me once and that was enought and i was lucky...after she did i screamed and cussed her and that startled her so i could get out.

Bottom line is I evaluate the situation every time I enter a pasture or pen. If it doesn't feel right I get out of there or don't go.

donna

 

[Alice]

If one comes at me (I carry a stick and have a dog)...I yell scream and sometimes even run towards them..If it looks scarry --they don't back off..i get down/or out and look for cover behind a tree or something.

Like dun said if they get you down...id stay there and look for a way out. only had one get me once and that was enought and i was lucky...after she did i screamed and cussed her and that startled her so i could get out.

Bottom line is I evaluate the situation every time I enter a pasture or pen. If it doesn't feel right I get out of there or don't go.

donna

If it doesn't feel right I get out of there or don't go.

Instincts were given to us for a reason...in any situation. I NEVER ignore them.

Alice

 

[Chuckie]

We have had two that dive. One named Popeye and #87. Popeye was my first hurdle. I made sure I always had a piece of wood in both hands. If she came at me, I ran toward her, throwing the wood in her face. She immediately would turn around. She ran fast the first two times she did it. It did scare me. But she is the boss cow and the others mind her. Except for me.

But after that, when I would go into the pasture, I always found her and walked toward her to make her move out of my way. Now she considers me the head cow. She has been a good protector of the herd from dogs. So she stays.

#87, a second-calf cow, has started it. I repeat the same process as above. She still is looking hard, but the wood changes her mind. She is a good protector of the herd too. So she stays until she pushes harder.

I saw a TV show some years back where in Africa, the elephants charged at people, and they would have their ears fanned out to even look larger. When the people ran toward them, it threw them off and they would turn around since they really don't have a sense of size. It has worked with the cows too.
Chuckie

 

[Susie David]

Really can't offer any advise as we don't have a mean cow on the place...don't breed them and don't bring them home.
We use low stress handling methods and don't excite the animals but did buy a hot shot this past fall and have used it to load stubborn animals.
We keep a old post hole digger handle by the door in the barn just in case, besides it keeps me upright when walking in the mud and snow.
DMc

 

[I luv herfrds]

Got a nasty bull right in the nose with a pitchfork. He left me alone.
Got charged by a cow this spring. I beat her off with my hat. :oops:
Crazy but it worked. Just about murdered the dog because he was right behind me and I didn't know it, cow had just calved.

 

[Brahma Bull]

Lucky I have never had that happen yet with an older bull or cow.Hard to say what you might do.You simply react to survive and no time to ponder.Be bad if your caught off guard,blind sided unexpectedly.Why I always carry my bullwhip or a big stick and exercise caution.Never ever completely trust them no matter how gentle they may be.Have to be careful putting out cubes too.They don't mean to hurt you but they are so hungry.
Had both a bag and a bucket knocked out of my hands,a bale of hay hooked.Was putting feed in a trough once,the cow threw her head up while eating caught me right in my mouth with top of her head.Why I put out the feed then open the gate now days.Things are going to happen no matter how safe you try to be.Goes with the business.

 

[novatech]

What would you do if a cow/bull was attacking you? I know prevention is the best measure, but attacks are still going to happen.

During a shark attack you punch them and bears you play dead. You hear about attacks, and I myself have been pounded into the ground, but I can't find any articles on the best way to end the attack.

How would you save your life?

When I was a kid my uncle would always stick me in the pen to separate the cattle. Being most were what we called "salt grass brahmans" They were pretty rough. When one would get after me my first instinct was to run. My uncle taught me that it was easier to face that cow than to have to deal with him because I ran. I learned that in most cases it was no more than a bluff by the cow and a slap it the head with a cowboy hat was usually enough to deter them. In a few cases I found what it was like to be a soccer ball. Back then I could just shake it off. Now I intentionally will only have docile brahmans, and stay the heck away from new babies.
If a cow is actually attacking you and not bluffing that cowboy hat still helps. If their head is right on you running in a straight line will not help. Always go in as tight a circle as you can around them if they are very close and then run out of their way. If the cow gets you down lay motionless face down. That may give you the chance to say one last prayer.:lol: The truth is if a cow gets you down I don't believe you will be trying to recall the advice that you received on here. Personally I will probably be kicking and screaming.

 

[Jogeephus]

Stand your ground. Raise your hands high in the air and yell. If it keeps coming, wait to the last minute and side step it like a clown does. NEVER RUN.