What's the point (putting down a bull)

[KNiVES]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-11751079

Basically, two walkers decided it was a good idea to walk in a field with a bull as the sun's going down. One gets killed, the other gets seriously injured. The bull is now due to be put down as a token gesture.

Now this begs the question, what's the point? It's tragic that somebody died, but putting the animal down is over the top. Bulls are highly territorial and aggressive animals, and you are considered incredibly lucky if you can enter a field with one and not expect any overt gestures of aggression.

It's completely different to putting down, say dogs for example, because they have to be maintained and cared for by people around the clock, who could be exposed to further vicious attacks. Bulls on the other hand are left to their own devices in fields all day long with minimal human interaction, and are dealt with in a professional and coordinated way that has plenty of contingencies in place to deal with aggressive livestock.

Why not just place the bull back where it was and just leave it in the agricultural process it was involved in? It was completely unnecessary to put it down in my opinion.

 

[Swifty55]

I'm sure putting a sign up would suffice as well.

 

[Shmo]

Yeah I agree, except for putting it back where it was. The report says that they were walking along a public footpath so if that took them through the field with the bull then best not put it back there. Pretty terrible though.

 

[Brian8bit]

Put it down. Eat it. Everybody wins.

 

[Jokester]

It does seem daft having a public footpath through a field with a bull in it.

 

[Cosimo]

I see nothing wrong with having it put down. You don’t know whether there is the slightest chance that it will attack anyone including the farmer again. No big deal as it will end up in an abattoir anyway.

 

[Brian8bit]

I don't think they designate fields bulls only.

 

[genan]

I'm sure putting a sign up would suffice as well.

Bullboard?

sorry

 

[JBuk]

don't wear red?

 

[SexyGreyFox]

don't wear red?

Bulls are colour blind.

Anyway, it has tasted blood and will already be planning it's next attack.

 

[Tefal]

I'm sure putting a sign up would suffice as well.

"that's a bull he weighs nearly a ton and can run at nearly 20mph, are you really sure you want to take this short cut?"

 

[GeX]

It does seem daft having a public footpath through a field with a bull in it.

footpaths are often rights of way, so really this is more a "seem daft having a bull in a field with a footpath through it".

Pointless putting the bull down though like

 

[GeX]

I don't think they designate fields bulls only.

they do

 

[Dave M]

It's meat, why keep meat that's proven itself to be dangerous - plenty more meat out there.

 

[KNiVES]

It's meat, why keep meat that's proven itself to be dangerous - plenty more meat out there.

Bulls are extremely expensive, and the meat will sell for much less because it's not being put down in optimal conditions. All livestock are potentially dangerous, so that is a moot point, especially as farmers and people who work with livestock know how to handle them, as I pointed out earlier.

Farmers absolutely hate this kind of occurrence. I used to drink and chat with the farmers in the village where I lived all the time down at the local, and they tended to agree that events like this are a complete nightmare for them. They have dozens of livestock, but even seeing just one go at the wrong time is a big setback. It's not just the early slaughter, it's the paperwork, the legislative response, the reworked financial planning, etc etc etc. All completely unnecessary, and actually serves to drive up the price of British beef.

 

[Tefal]

It's meat, why keep meat that's proven itself to be dangerous - plenty more meat out there.

bullocks are made into meat the ones that live to be adults are for making more meat by breeding.


iirc Good bull seamen* goes for thousands of pounds.




No i don't don't know how you know if it's good or bad bull seamen.

 

[Vampyre]

Not the bull's fault, someone encroached on his territory, mind you it wouldn't surprise my if the farmer put the bull there deliberately to try and stop people using the footpath as an awful lot of rights of way are disputed by farmers.

As has been pointed out bulls can be very dangerous animals, one should never enter a field without knowing what is in it. Had the walkers followed The Countryside Code this wouldn't have happened;

Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
Leave gates and property as you find them
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
Keep dogs under close control
Consider other people

 

[Hairybudda]

Public footpath, the walkers aren't at fault here.

Had the walkers followed The Countryside Code this wouldn't have happened;

Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
Leave gates and property as you find them
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
Keep dogs under close control
Consider other people

How exactly would following that code have helped?

Don't agree with the bull being put down, don't agree with the fact someone had to die either. I know if an animal killed my partner I'd want the animal dead, but then I'd be emotionally involved.

 

[mushroomsoup]

its been put down because frankly, people far more qualified than you - have decided that it is the best thing to do as it is dangerous. it also probably gives the family some piece of mind..

 

[KNiVES]

its been put down because frankly, people far more qualified than you - have decided that it is the best thing to do as it is dangerous. it also probably gives the family some piece of mind..

The whole 'people more qualified than you' slant doesn't work. You only have to look at the last 100 years.