Questions about cows (mostly laws)

Z

Zay

Member
Location
West Yorkshire
Hi, just to start off i wanna make it clear that i am absolutely clueless about keeping cattle. I also have no clue if this is in the right forum lol

So i absolutely love cows and bulls, and i desperately want to own one. There are many problems with that though, as i don't own any land, don't have a job, and definitely can't afford to buy land or own an entire herd. I essentially just want one as a pet, which i know is a little unconventional and inconvenient, but I grew up surrounded by them and it's my dream to have one someday.

I had a few ideas, but i can't find many answers about laws. (also, I'm just gonna refer to them as cows, but I really mean any gender. i honestly prefer males so i may keep a steer, potentially.)

1. Can I have a cow that belongs to me, but i keep it on someone else's land? there's a lovely dairy farm just down the street from me that I've visited since i was a kid, and i was curious if it would be possible for me to contact them and ask about keeping a cow on their farm, and maybe doing volunteer work there to make up for it? is that legal? would they even accept? I'd want to raise it from a calf, as it's important to me that i have a really close bond with it as i want to train it to ride, which brings me to my next question.

2. is it even legal to ride a cow in the uk? i haven't seen any laws saying it's not, but I've also never seen anyone here do it. i definitely can't afford a horse, so a cow is my next best bet. if is legal, then...

3. could i ride it outside of the farm, or would that count as moving it? i know you have to have some sort of certificate(?) to transport or move cattle, but does that apply if I'm just riding it like a horse? would it follow horse rules? are there even specific rules for cows? will i just have to contact my local police and ask?

i have a lot of other questions, but those are my main 3 right now. it would be wonderful if anyone could help out with this, as i couldn't find much online. i guess it isn't a common issue haha. I live in West Yorkshire if it helps, and am 19.
 
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E

egbert

Member
Livestock Farmer
Zay said:
Hi, just to start off i wanna make it clear that i am absolutely clueless about keeping cattle. I also have no clue if this is in the right forum lol

So i absolutely love cows and bulls, and i desperately want to own one. There are many problems with that though, as i don't own any land, don't have a job, and definitely can't afford to buy land or own an entire herd. I essentially just want one as a pet, which i know is a little unconventional and inconvenient, but I grew up surrounded by them and it's my dream to have one someday.

I had a few ideas, but i can't find many answers about laws. (also, I'm just gonna refer to them as cows, but I really mean any gender. i honestly prefer males so i may keep a steer, potentially.)

1. Can I have a cow that belongs to me, but i keep it on someone else's land? there's a lovely dairy farm just down the street from me that I've visited since i was a kid, and i was curious if it would be possible for me to contact them and ask about keeping a cow on their farm, and maybe doing volunteer work there to make up for it? is that legal? would they even accept? I'd want to raise it from a calf, as it's important to me that i have a really close bond with it as i want to train it to ride, which brings me to my next question.

2. is it even legal to ride a cow in the uk? i haven't seen any laws saying it's not, but I've also never seen anyone here do it. i definitely can't afford a horse, so a cow is my next best bet. if is legal, then...

3. could i ride it outside of the farm, or would that count as moving it? i know you have to have some sort of certificate(?) to transport or move cattle, but does that apply if I'm just riding it like a horse? would it follow horse rules? are there even specific rules for cows? will i just have to contact my local police and ask?

i have a lot of other questions, but those are my main 3 right now. it would be wonderful if anyone could help out with this, as i couldn't find much online. i guess it isn't a common issue haha. I live in West Yorkshire if it helps, and am 19.
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OK Zay.

1. Yes is is perfectly legal and possible for you to own a cow that lives on someone else's farm.
Obviously, it's a big step to get the farmer to agree.
Offering to work unpaid could be a big help.
(Just the basic summer grazing/winter fodder, to maintain an adult bovine can easily run into several hundred pounds annually)
Introducing yourself would be simple enough...it might be prudent to leave off mention of them keeping a cow for a few months.
And be prepared for blank stares or hilarity if/when you mention riding your cow.

2. As far as i'm aware, there is nothing to stop you riding a cow in the UK.
some Rsole might say it was cruel, but a court would struggle to prove it...riding hosses is legal.
The problem is cows have a pretty crap gait, are dead slow, and you can be pretty sure there's good reason why cows are not the mount of choice.
They 'pull' better than a horse, pound for pound, but only make half the pace.
There would be no tack available off the shelf.

They are often the most abiding of friendly creatures though, so maybe stick with the close bond stuff.

3. Good question. Technically, if they cross onto another 'holding', that is a movement....which triggers a 6 day standstill for the receiving end.
Indeed, if they leave the first holding, travel the roads, and then return...I suspect some bright soul in DEFRA could say that's a movement.

In a quiet rural setting, leading a cow around on a halter wouldn't raise that many eyebrows, and it'd be a niggardly Rsole that dobbed you in.

Here's a thought. If you could get stage one off the ground, and had a dopey quiet cow on a local farm, suggest to farmer Giles that you could go halves, and offer 'cow cuddle therapy' sessions, £40/hour to stressed city folk.
Jobs a good'un
 
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MRT

MRT

Member
Livestock Farmer
1. Possible
2. Entirely legal and possible, can even showjump them, many wear leg supports however, I'd favour 10% or less of cow bw to be safe so get a big ol cow or on a diet
3. I think you'd be fine. Don't get too attached if you are in a tb area. Like Wales.
 
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Bald Rick

Bald Rick

Moderator
Moderator
Location
Anglesey
Bald Rick said:
There was a German girl who taught her cow to jump over showjump fences.
Bloody great red & white thing.


Although that could have been the girl. Memory is not what it was
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bovine calf cattle cows dairy defra fodder gold grazing help needed laws online plough sheep transport

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