Livestock straying: landowner rights explained
This guidance is intended to be used for general information purposes, is not intended to be a definitive guide to the law and cannot be a substitute for independent advice. NFU members get 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 applies to 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.