Can anyone help with a disagreement in our household (another one!)
I think it is not legal to keep a bull in a field, even if running with cows, when the field has a public footpath running through it. Angela, my wife, who is a trained farm secretary, says it is legal provided you display signs saying there is a bull in the field.
Who is right? if either of us.
Just so this doesn't get too complicated for me we are in Norfolk so I am more interested in the law in England and Wales. If you can quote case law to support your case that would settle this once and for all!
Bull in Field with a footpath
Hello MAB
I've just looked at the Ramblers Associaton website and this is what they say:
"Can a farmer keep a bull in a field crossed by a public path?
A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation"
This will now throw up the question is the Dexter a dairy breed or a beef breed?!
Where abouts in Norfolk are you? I'm just over the border into Suffolk near Halesworth- there aren't too many Dexters in East Anglia so would be nice to know where abouts you are.
Erica
I've just looked at the Ramblers Associaton website and this is what they say:
"Can a farmer keep a bull in a field crossed by a public path?
A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation"
This will now throw up the question is the Dexter a dairy breed or a beef breed?!
Where abouts in Norfolk are you? I'm just over the border into Suffolk near Halesworth- there aren't too many Dexters in East Anglia so would be nice to know where abouts you are.
Erica
Erica Strange
Minden Dexters
Minden Dexters
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Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
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Hi MAB
I went into this matter in great depth when we bought our current farm 4 years ago. Dexters are not dairy for the purposes of this legislation and I got that in writing from the NFU legal team at the time, so dexter bull is OK (but read on).
However, no animal considered dangerous should be kept in the field with a public footpath. i.e. cows with young calves etc, or maybe a bull who hasn't got company?
Clive
I went into this matter in great depth when we bought our current farm 4 years ago. Dexters are not dairy for the purposes of this legislation and I got that in writing from the NFU legal team at the time, so dexter bull is OK (but read on).
However, no animal considered dangerous should be kept in the field with a public footpath. i.e. cows with young calves etc, or maybe a bull who hasn't got company?
Clive
Clive
-
Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
- Contact:
We are not near a road or footpath but since getting a bull we have a sign on the fence next to our field gate, and another on a building just inside the farm entrance.
Got them of ebay from parkvale signs, only a couple of quid each.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/400x300....iewItem
Got them of ebay from parkvale signs, only a couple of quid each.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/400x300....iewItem
Humberdale Dexters (31319)
Holderness
East Yorkshire
Holderness
East Yorkshire
A sign saying simply " Bull in Field" is the best no mention of 'Beware of the bull' etc for that implies you believe the animal is dangerous.
Glad to hear legislation regards Dexters as dual purpose - wish there was that category at shows like the Royal as Dexter bulls are regarded as dairy there so no classes!
I thank my lucky stars that there is no recognised footpath on our land however, there is the 'right to roam' but the walker must take sensible precautions! I asked who evaluates the 'sensible' bit and this has to go through the courts to find out!
My rams are more dodgy than the bull....
Glad to hear legislation regards Dexters as dual purpose - wish there was that category at shows like the Royal as Dexter bulls are regarded as dairy there so no classes!
I thank my lucky stars that there is no recognised footpath on our land however, there is the 'right to roam' but the walker must take sensible precautions! I asked who evaluates the 'sensible' bit and this has to go through the courts to find out!
My rams are more dodgy than the bull....
I have a free sign from my district council to say
"Legally permitted bull in this field". Don't know whether it is a national thing or not. Ask your footpath officer if they supply signs.
Dexters are definately not on the list of "dangerous bulls".
We are technically Dairy and Dual Purpose in the Royal schedule. If we could get 3 dual purpose breeds then we could have a dual purpose championship, they won't do it for 2 breeds only. Bulls would then be allowed. We did have them exhibited in our centenary year.
"Legally permitted bull in this field". Don't know whether it is a national thing or not. Ask your footpath officer if they supply signs.
Dexters are definately not on the list of "dangerous bulls".
We are technically Dairy and Dual Purpose in the Royal schedule. If we could get 3 dual purpose breeds then we could have a dual purpose championship, they won't do it for 2 breeds only. Bulls would then be allowed. We did have them exhibited in our centenary year.