A section of highway near Barrie has reopened after a herd of cows blocked traffic for several hours.

The southbound lanes of Highway 11 was closed in Oro-Medonte near the Line 5 on-ramp, Ontario Provincial Police said.

OPP first issued a warning on Wednesday night, saying between 60 and 70 cows had escaped an enclosure.

On Thursday morning, police said the road closure was still in effect. The highway reopened at approximately 11 a.m.