Highland cows face the chop – after complaint by dog walker

FOR decades, a farming family’s herd of long-horned highland cattle have been a Peak District tourist attraction.

The ‘gentle’ beasts had roamed Baslow Edge in Derbyshire since being introduced by the family and were admired by photographers and ramblers alike.

But now farmer Alex Birch has been forced to sell or slaughter the herd of 27 herd after a dog owner complained he felt threatened by one of the animals.

Mr Birch said: ‘It’s heartbreaking – we’ve had to remove them.

‘My grandfather is deeply, deeply upset. He bought them originally 40 years ago when he was in his 30s.

‘He built them up from there and we’ve kept them all this time. Now it’s for nothing.’

The 32-year-old said the dog owner made a complaint to the Health and Safety Executive after a cow ‘ pinned him against a wall’.

He said: ‘They claimed the cow went for his dog and the dog went to the human who protected the dog. The cow never hurt anyone but just approached the man.

‘Anyone who knows about these cattle will know that, if you get in that close, it’s going to hurt you.’

Saddened by the loss of the herd, more than 7,300 people have now signed an online petition to try to save it.

A photographer, known as Villager Jim, from nearby Foolow, said: ‘I took pictures of the cows all the time.

‘They’re quite famous here. It’s ridiculous that it comes down to one complaint. They’re completely peaceful animals that everyone enjoys.’

But a spokesman for the HSE said: ‘We have investigated concerns raised in relation to cattle at Baslow.

‘We have worked with the owner of the cattle and the matter has been satisfactorily resolved. We will not be commenting further on this.’