Just walk

[hoff135]

Was thinking today about the prospect of strict rules being introduced for livestock transport.

What if we decided to bypass the whole thing and just walk our stock to the mart? As far as i know its not illegal to walk livestock even on busy roads as long as you have enough personnel to control them.

I was imagining a scene of total chaos as thousands of lambs were driven down the A9 trunk road to Dingwall mart from the north causing mayhem. Obviously the whole thing taking days.

Most of the paperwork left blank as there would be no loading or unloading times. No permits, nothing.

Imagine the faces of the people in power if we just bypassed the whole haulage part of the journey and just went on foot.

 

[roscoe erf]

Was thinking today about the prospect of strict rules being introduced for livestock transport.

What if we decided to bypass the whole thing and just walk our stock to the mart? As far as i know its not illegal to walk livestock even on busy roads as long as you have enough personnel to control them.

I was imagining a scene of total chaos as thousands of lambs were driven down the A9 trunk road to Dingwall mart from the north causing total chaos obviously the whole thing taking days.

Most of the paperwork left blank as there would be no loading or unloading times. No permits, nothing.

Imagine the faces of the people in power if we just bypassed the whole haulage part of the journey and just went on foot.

bring back cowboys drovers etc

 

[unlacedgecko]

bring back cowboys drovers etc

100% I would do that job.

 

[spin cycle]

i'd pay to watch

old shepherd walked a group of ewes thru the village about 15 years ago...it was a joy to watch

 

[Cowmansam]

At my last farm we used to regularly walk groups of dry cows 2 miles down lanes an through the village 50 to 100 at a time job done in half an hour compared to a day in the cattle box

 

[Cowmansam]

Old chap here used to walk his cattle to market down the main a5 for a few year till he could afford a cattle box when he started out would have been busy enough even then

 

[roscoe erf]

100% I would do that job.

just think of all the old drovers route we could open up again i believe there is a right to drive sheep over one of the bridges in London

 

[Cowmansam]

We still walk heifers and drys down the main road but only once or twice a year and for a less than a mile soon build up some traffic

 

[unlacedgecko]

just think of all the old drovers route we could open up again i believe there is a right to drive sheep over one of the bridges in London

 

[unlacedgecko]

We still walk heifers and drys down the main road but only once or twice a year and for a less than a mile soon build up some traffic

I move sheep across and down roads here. Just as well my dog is cool headed and knows her job. Lack of stock fencing and hedges not correctly laid means they often detour.

 

[tinsheet]

Still drive cattle on the roads round here up to 3 or 4 miles, help a neighbour move cattle, nothing to do 5 miles +

 

[hoff135]

At my last farm we used to regularly walk groups of dry cows 2 miles down lanes an through the village 50 to 100 at a time job done in half an hour compared to a day in the cattle box

We used to take our sheep down from the top fields and hill on to the A9 (very busy road for those that dont know) and go along it for about 300 yds. Often did it early morning. Tourists loved it some others would run you, the dog or the sheep down to get past. Only stopped 6 years ago when we got a box. Maybe if i cant afford the inspection ill be back at it

 

[Cowmansam]

It’s way better for man and beast than been stuffed into a holding pen and loaded up we are right on the main road and can take you aslong to be let out with a trailer some days as it takes to just walk them out occasionally get the odd idiot who doesn’t want to stop but 100 plus cattle soon slows them up

 

[Cowmansam]

And this is on either the a483 or a5 both are very busy but if you don’t give them much choice they have to slow up

 

[hoff135]

Adding to the benefits of this, farmers can then boast of the CO2 they have saved from not using a lorry, and we grazed the roadsides thus saving the council doing it by machine. Its a win win all round

 

[Cowmansam]

I’m sure there was some guy in Australia walked cattle over a thousand miles from one ranch to another huge numbers of them too bloody impressive may be a few more obstacles here though

 

[roscoe erf]

glad i didn't just dream it

 

[KennyO]

I’m sure there was some guy in Australia walked cattle over a thousand miles from one ranch to another huge numbers of them too bloody impressive may be a few more obstacles here though

@Farmer Roy posted a video about it i think. The Station owner was one of the largest graziers in Australia iirc recently passed away.

 

[Cowmansam]

Could be where I’ve heard it from then

 

[topground]

Was thinking today about the prospect of strict rules being introduced for livestock transport.

What if we decided to bypass the whole thing and just walk our stock to the mart? As far as i know its not illegal to walk livestock even on busy roads as long as you have enough personnel to control them.

I was imagining a scene of total chaos as thousands of lambs were driven down the A9 trunk road to Dingwall mart from the north causing total chaos obviously the whole thing taking days.

Most of the paperwork left blank as there would be no loading or unloading times. No permits, nothing.

Imagine the faces of the people in power if we just bypassed the whole haulage part of the journey and just went on foot.

A handling system on wheels to tow behind the tractor with the cattle contained but walking will be the way forward if the DEFRA proposals on animal transport are introduced. Trouble is there will be no livestock markets to walk them to. @JP1 might have his eye on sole distributed rights from the continent where they are in use. He should be along in a minute with the details.