Ask a solicitor: My neighbour’s cattle damaged my land – what are my rights?

Escaped cattle have repeatedly damaged a sheep farmer’s fencing, grazing land and equipment. Rural solicitor Karen explains how farmers can document their losses and seek compensation while trying to preserve good neighbourly relations

Escaped cattle have repeatedly damaged a sheep farmer’s fencing, grazing land and equipment. Rural solicitor Karen explains how farmers can document their losses and seek compensation while trying to preserve good neighbourly relations.

Dear Karen, 

I am a sheep farmer and recently discovered that a number of my neighbour’s cattle had broken through a boundary fence and entered my lands. They caused significant damage to fencing, grazed several fields and damaged a water trough. A number of ewes were disturbed during lambing season and some lambs had to be treated afterwards.