The owners of rare breed cattle at Wogden Foot Nature Reserve, near Dunford Bridge, say a loose dog may have caused two of their animals to lose their calves.
Grazier Sam Sykes said a vet confirmed that two of three cows at the reserve had lost their calves. A regular user of the nearby Trans Pennine Trail reported seeing three people and a dog inside the reserve around the time of the incident.
Sykes noticed a change in the cows' behaviour a few weeks ago. The animals, which are usually very tame and used to his own dog, became agitated and chased it away. A few days later, one cow could barely walk and required veterinary checks.
The vet's examination found two of the three cows had lost their calves. Trauma is the only likely explanation for the losses, according to Sykes.
Long-term impact on the reserve
Sykes and his wife Sue, both retired and in their 70s, have managed grazing animals at the reserve for about 20 years. They use rare miniature breed cattle and sheep to control scrub growth and encourage wildflowers and other plants to thrive.
The incident has left the couple considering whether it is safe to continue grazing cattle at the reserve. Sykes said the loss of the calves will affect their future breeding plans and could have longer-term financial consequences.
"We are absolutely devastated. We don't want to see our animals put through something like this and our main concern is their welfare," he said.
Sykes urged dog owners to keep their pets under control around livestock. "You should never be taking dogs off the lead around livestock or allowing them to get into fields with animals," he said.
Council reminder on dog control
Barnsley Council, which owns the site, said the reserve is fenced off with no public access. The council reminded dog owners that livestock worrying is a criminal offence.
A council spokesperson said: "Cattle graze there to help look after the land. Worrying livestock is a criminal offence, so dog owners must make sure their dogs do not chase or disturb cattle. Views of the site can be enjoyed safely from the Trans Pennine Trail."
