Police have cornered four cows and a bull that made a mad dash for freedom along one of the country's busiest highways early Thursday morning.

The cattle were unexpectedly freed and ran onto the Queen Elizabeth Way, just outside Toronto, after the trailer they were riding in overturned.

The cattle started wandering through the westbound lanes, causing long traffic tie-ups and quite a bit of confusion.

OPP Const. Dave Woodford told CBC News the first order of business was to get the animals "over to the shoulder [of the highway]." He added that the police had called in someone "with rodeo experience" to help out.

The highway was closed down near Dixie Road and the QEW for about an hour while police got the animals out of harm's way.

By 9 a.m., the cattle had moved into a residential neighbourhood, two of them taking up residence in a backyard where they snacked on grass and waited. CBC reporter Mihira Lakshman described the pair as "calm and a little bemused."

The others were under close observation nearby.

Police told homeowners to stay away from their windows, fearing the cattle might be spooked if they saw too many people.

A truck has been called and police say the cattle will be rounded up very soon.

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