Many years ago when I was in my teens I was visiting my Great Aunt and Uncle in Oxfordshire (Poffley End, Hailey near Witney). We always had a day or two fishing and on this occasion we were fishing along a river bank in a field of cows plus bull. At the start they were way over the far side didn't even realise they were in our field.
I was on the bank between my dad and my Great Uncle when the herd including the bull eventually wandered over. The cows stood back but the bull came up to each of us in turn, my dad first then to me. My Great Uncle, who had worked on a farm for much of his life) called over and just said 'sit still boy, he won't hurt you while he's got his girls with him'
I sat there dead still, at the time I couldn't swim, but I was prepared to jump in the river. The bull came right up behind me sniffing my neck, close enough to feel his breath on me, needless to say I was a shivering wreck, but the bull sauntered down the bank to sniff out the rest of our party.
I don't know if there is any truth in bulls being 'docile'
when they have their ladies about, as others have said, the sheer bulk of these animals is enough not to want to put any advice fully to the test !
