Farmer vows to crossbreed his Highland cows to make them ‘less photogenic’ in bid to stop influencers hugging them and taking selfies
A farmer has vowed to make Highland cows ‘less photogenic’ through crossbreeding in a bid to stop influencers flocking to hug them and take selfies.
Alex Birch, a cattle farmer from Derbyshire, has taken the situation seriously and is trying to make his cows less attractive by changing their genetic makeup.
Mr Birch, 39, said his ‘cows could not find peace due to the influx of visitors’ and added: ‘I saw the videos, I saw it myself, I saw someone making a yoga video next to them.’
The farmer said he “did not take the decision lightly” but felt he had no choice but to crossbreed.
Highland cows have been in his family since his grandfather introduced them in the 1970s.
Mr Birch added that the cows were regularly disturbed by visitors after the animals went viral on social media for their adorable looks as they roam the beautiful moors of Baslow Edge.
It comes after the Peak District National Park Authority warned visitors not to get too close to, feed or take selfies with the cows.
The trend has seen visitors from across the country flock to the Peak District in recent years, with interest increasing since the pandemic.
Group of people taking selfies near rustic cattle yards near Petersfield, Hampshire, at the weekend
Alex Birch has vowed to make Highland cows ‘less photogenic’ through crossbreeding in a bid to stop influencers flocking to hug them and take selfies
Videos have circulated on TikTok showing visitors tickling, petting and cuddling the animals and offering tips on how others can do the same.
One influencer documented how she got to the cows before filming herself petting and cuddling the animals and their calves, captioning the video: ‘We had the best cuddles #highlandcows #peakdistrict’
Another filmed themselves leaning on a calf, stroking its head before a big-horned adult approached. The caption read: ‘I could stay with them all day #highlandcow #peakdistrcit #peakdistrictnationalpark’
The videos contributed to a wider craze for Highland cows, with visitors traveling in groups to places such as Butser Hill in Hampshire during the Easter Bank Holiday.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which manages the nature reserve, appealed to visitors ‘not to touch or approach’ the Highland cows, amid growing interest on social media.
Mr. Birch went a step further by choosing to preserve his animals through crossbreeding; This requires upland cows to be mated with another hill breed to reduce their distinctive, photogenic appearance.
he said BBC He once found ’30 people with cameras flashing’ while cows were cornered in a field.
He added: ‘People can’t understand when you tell them not to approach them and the cows might attack them.
Despite warnings to stay away from the animals, a woman was seen getting very close to a Highland cow on Butser Hill in Hampshire.
‘They don’t think it’s a problem, they don’t see the danger.’
Mr Birch said if someone was injured they could be held responsible for the investigation.
He added: ‘We will breed them, cross them with different hill breeds.
‘The aim is to make them less photogenic… sad, it’s not a decision I want to make, my grandfather isn’t too happy about it but he understands.
‘This isn’t just a coincidence, it’s been going on for four years…people are so persistent.’
The Peak District National Park Authority said hugging cows was ‘extremely dangerous’ and should be avoided as you could be trampled, mugged or assaulted. The risk increases even more when cows have calves.
