A woman has had a lucky escape after being run down by a cow on a Dannevirke dairy farm yesterday, sparking reminders from farming experts on the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the large animals.
The 47-year-old woman was flown by rescue helicopter to Palmerston North Hospital yesterday afternoon, afterbeing attacked by a cow at the dairy farm around 7km south of Dannevirke, off SH2.
Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter pilot Marc Bridgman said he attended the incident about 3.45pm.
"Essentially she was out in the paddock and the cow had just taken a shine to her and had a few goes at her," he said.
"She obviously couldn't really get away from it." He believed the attack involved headbutting, not biting or stomping, and said ambulance and helicopter crews were able to attend to the woman swiftly.
"Everything is serious when you get a helicopter, but it was a very quick job. We were there for five or six minutes on the ground and back in Palmerston North within 25 minutes of leaving."
Mr Bridgman said the woman had been moved over the fence away from the cow when the helicopter arrived.
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Bruce Wills said cow-attacks were a common occurrence, especially during calving season.
"Cows must be respected especially at this time of year," he said.
"My breeding cows are right in the middle of calving, and it would be a stupid thing to do to get in between a cow and her calf. It's mother nature and maternal instinct. They are unpredictable to the point where you can walk through a paddock and have to be aware of how they are standing, what they are doing with their head - it's almost like a sixth sense farmers need to have.
Mr Wills said despite being badly injured after a bull attack earlier in the year, he was still more wary of cows.
"As a farmer with 700 head of cattle I am more respectful of a cow when they are calving than I ever am of a great big bull.
"A good cow is 500 or 600kg, so you've got half a tonne and if that gets a bit agitated and they are protecting their calf who knows what can happen."
The woman was discharged from hospital late yesterday.
