Livestock Owners Liability for Injuries As a Result of Dangerous Tendency of An Animal

In Taft v. Taft, 209 Ga. App. 499, 500 (433 S.E.2d 667) (1993), the Court explained: Bulls generally are strong and some bulls are vicious notwithstanding their classification as domestic farm animals. Nevertheless, it cannot be said as a matter of law, or that it is judicially known, that bulls, as a class, are dangerous. . . . Bulls are more dangerous than cows and steers; stallions are more dangerous than mares or geldings; rams are more dangerous than ewes and lambs. However, these animals have been kept for stud purposes from time immemorial so that the particular danger involved in their dangerous tendencies has become a normal incident of civilized life. The virility which makes them dangerous is necessary for their usefulness in performing their function in the socially essential breeding of livestock, and justifies the risk involved in their keeping. Therefore the law has not regarded bulls, stallions and rams as being abnormally dangerous animals. Id. at 500 (1). Accordingly, the Court held that a livestock owner is liable to "one who sustains injury as a result of the vicious or dangerous tendency of the animal only in the event the owner knows of its vicious or dangerous character." Id.