When Irish cows meet Irish trains (or is it "meat"?!)

I tell you: Not all cows and calves are as happy as the one you see in the picture. I mean, not all of them are so happy as to be alive! Today, one of my flatmates told me that on her way home last week, her train had slaughtered seven cows. Imagine the shock! Your train stops, you look out of the window... I'll spare you the details! I wish she had spared me too! Seven cows! That seems like an achievement for an Irish train, doesn't it?
The question wandering around in my head: What were these (soon to be) bloody cows doing on the tracks?!
And pray - what were those other cows doing on the motorway when I went to Galway last week?!