Derbyshire farmer taking action to stop TikTokers hugging cows

A farmer has said he is planning to out-breed his highland cows to try to stop walkers and social media influencers from hugging them. Cattle farmer Alex Birch, from Derbyshire, told the BBC he was taking action to make the cows "less photogenic" in the future due to a "growing trend" on social media. The Peak District National Park Authority has previously warned people about getting too close, feeding, or taking selfies with cows. Speaking to the BBC, Birch said: "My cows don't get any peace... I've seen the videos, I've seen it in person, I've seen someone filming a yoga video next to them." The farmer said the highland cows had been in his family since his grandfather introduced them in the 1970s. Birch added he had "not taken the decision lightly" but felt he had no choice. Out-breeding involves crossing the highland cows with another hill breed in order to make them less appealing to visitors. He said they were approached regularly and the situation had been exacerbated due to social media. The cattle, which roam on moorland at Baslow Edge, have become a tourist attraction in recent years, drawing visitors from across the country, with a large increase since the pandemic, Bir