Livestock straying: landowner rights explained
Please note that this guidance is intended to be used for general information purposes only, is not intended to be a definitive guide to the law and cannot be a substitute for independent advice. NFU members can obtain free initial legal and professional advice from NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.
Livestock “stray” when they escape unaided onto the land of another person. This covers situations where, for example, the livestock escape through defective fencing or through a gate that has inadvertently been left open.
This Business Guide explains where the law stands when livestock stray, whether it’s your livestock that have escaped onto neighbouring land, or a neighbour’s animals have strayed onto your land.