If your dog is off-leash on farmland and the farmer thinks it is a threat to his livestock he will tell you. If you your dog is off-leash and chasing livestock the farmer has every right to shoot your dog, it is up to the farmer if he wants to exercise this.

Putting a dog in with a ram is a no brainer. Why would you ever want to put your dog in such danger? One blow and the damage could be terminal if not instant. Would you go in with an angry ram?

If you are on farm land respect where you are and put your dog on a leash. If you think there might be livestock in an area put your dog on a leash. It doesn't take much to ensure your dog is safe and so are the livestock.

If you are on farmland and feel threatened by any cows then by all means drop the leash as they will be bothered about the dog and not you and the dog can run faster than a cow, you can't.

If you think that your reactions to your dog are quicker than your dog's reactions to what it is seeing and wanting to do think again. Get it on a leash and then there is no room for error.