Escaped rodeo cows shock Dunedin resident

A Dunedin woman woken by loud mooing was shocked to find a small herd of cows in her backyard early this morning.

Police were called to the address in suburban Outram by the startled resident shortly before 5am, Senior Sergeant Brian Ben said.

The cows were thought to have escaped from a rodeo to be held at nearby showgrounds today, he said.

"We suspect that some of the animals are having a bit of a feed before they go and take the cowboys for a ride."

Mr Ben said he was "thinking of sending some policemen out there to start the rodeo early" but called animal control instead.

He did not know if the animals had been deliberately let loose.

- NZPA