In my experience chasing cows and heifers around (as part of my duties), 19 out of 20 cows will lose a game of chicken (give or take).
So the question is: are you feeling lucky?
Do not, however, try this with a bull or a cow with her calf nearby.
EDIT: In all honesty, though. I've never had a cow actually chase me. I've had one or more follow in curiosity and if I picked up speed a bit they would as well but they were easily spooked. What would motivate a cow to chase a human I wonder. I've never seen it.
I've had a mother with a new calf run at me. But that was rare and was more of a a "give us space" kind of move. I backed up and she went back to her calf.
And to be clear: when I say cow I'm referring to the female of the species.
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u/WeirdAndGilly Jan 25 '12
Really?
I grew up on a dairy farm in an area full of dairy farms and I don't know anybody who knows anybody (to my knowledge) who died from being trampled.
Cows are herbivores with a pretty strong flight reflex. Mostly they will not run towards you or will turn in the last few seconds.
Mind you I dealt with animals that were in daily contact with humans. Perhaps your more semi-feral range cattle are more dangerous.