My heart goes out to those concerned with this awful tradegy.
I am always intrigued by the advice of those who have never experienced issues with cattle and I do accept the advice is based on their own experiences but please do not be led into a false sense of security. Serious incidents can involve even the most experienced of us with or without dogs and
I refer you back to a previous thread on this topic "Cow Discussion.......again" 37617-90 - not too long ago.
I agree with you and might even go further... I'm often dismayed by what some people who have always been fortunate in their encounters with cattle have to say on the matter.
I think it's important to realise that many who read what is written on forums are looking for information or advice. I accept my view might be a minority one, but I believe that we who contribute to this forum have a responsibility to those who visit.
I wonder if my approach to the issue of cattle in fields is familiar. Put simply, as time has gone on I've become ever more wary about cattle. At first, I didn't think much about crossing a field with cattle. It wasn't a problem - 10 times, 20 times, perhaps 50 times, I don't know. No issues. Then one day I crossed a field where a herd was standing about 50 yards away from the line of my path. I kept an eye on them, but the shape of the field meant they were out of sight for the final few yards before I reached the stile. Just as I climbed the stile to leave the field, a cow thundered past bellowing. I've no idea why; I hadn't seen any calves and I'd never experienced anything like that before. I knew I could have been trampled.
Like some others here, I believe I know how to deal with cattle in fields. I stay alert; I'm wary. I can do all of the things people advise, but if I see an alternative to crossing the field I'll take it. Nowadays, only if I see no alternative will I make my way around or through cattle. I don't know how many fields I've crossed without incident, but it's a lot. I've also looked at the situation and decided that crossing a particular field would be too risky. On one occasion, my wife and I abandoned the route we wanted to follow because we judged it to be dangerous.
Something that rarely, if ever, gets mentioned is the location, but perhaps this is relevant and may help to explain why some people come across to me as blasé. In wide open spaces such as moorland or hills, cattle - even the scary-looking ones with the huge horns - tend to be (in my experience!) docile and no problem at all. In smaller fields, I've seen a herd of bullocks run away from a large noisy group of ramblers just as I was wondering about the best route to take between the animals - so perhaps being in a group is safer than walking solo.
In my experience, the most challenging situation is where cattle are confined to a relatively small space. I hope this photo illustrates what I mean...
This is the time I mentioned earlier when my wife and I decided to go back the way we'd come. There's a fast-flowing river to the right and the exit from the triangular field ahead is out of sight in the far corner. The cattle moved towards us as we approached. We weighed up the situation and decided not to chance it.
To summarise: I don't believe there is a technique or approach which, if only people would use, will always allow for a safe crossing. Yes, perhaps 99 times out of 100 all will be well and you might even convince yourself you know what you're doing and you might even share your wisdom with others. But please, accept that one day something unpredictable might occur and playing cool, calm and collected or (heaven forbid) being macho isn't going to help.
Be cautious; be wary; be aware... and be prepared to go another way or chicken out altogether if you judge it to be the sensible option.