Mondag 24th - Fly Spray for the 4 cattle

Hi All, 

Found the cows not far from the spring area enjoying the cool of the forest. 

Spring still flowing fine, I saw the break in the barb, and have twisted it up for the time being, as i didnt have the right tools in the truck to fix it. 

Passed it on to reserves team.

Thanks for keeping an eye on the cattle.

Grazing Team

Sunday 23rd August – All 4 seen – Fence damage near the Fire Hydrant sign & NoFence collars triggering when cattle drink from the adjacent pool

At 15:50 this afternoon, the cattle were happily grazing in the southwest corner of the site, enjoying plenty of grass and leaves from the trees and bushes. They were all friendly, pausing their grazing to come over and say hello, with steer 200 especially enjoying some neck and shoulder scratches. Afterwards, they gathered around me, content to just relax and chew their cud. The flies were out in force today, swarming around their eyes and noses as well as gathering across their shoulders and sides. They all appreciated having the flies gently brushed from their faces, but the relief was short-lived, with the flies quickly returning.

After a while, the cattle drifted off into the surrounding area to resume grazing, gradually venturing north towards the corral, but steer 200 didn't venture far. He would return and come right up to me, content to just stand with me while I helped keep the flies from his face. He also thoroughly enjoyed a long back rub, shifting forwards and backwards to ensure I didn't miss a spot. The others soon returned too, happy to rest in the shade and chew their cud. By 16:40, they had started grazing again, crossing the main path and heading over to the trees and bushes by the western fence line. I said my goodbyes soon after and headed off to check the water. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well, although they certainly had to contend with plenty of flies today.

The pond still had some water in it, but with very little rain in the last week, the level continues to drop. There is still water pooled at the fire hydrant sign in the northwest corner of the site, as well as in the surrounding run-off areas. I noticed there was some fence damage by the fire hydrant sign, with the second-from-bottom strand of barbed wire missing and appearing to have been either cut or snapped (photos below).

At 16:55, I had just set off to say a final goodbye to the cattle when I heard some noise nearby in the woodland and looked over to see them approaching. All four wandered over before heading on to have a refreshing drink from the pools. Whilst drinking from the larger pool near the hydrant sign, steer 200's collar gave an audible warning, and he quickly moved off, but soon joined cow 201 and steer 207 drinking from the water in the run-off area. Please could the NoFence boundary be extended slightly to prevent this from happening? I said my goodbyes just after 17:10, leaving them all resting peacefully in the woodland.

The cattle were all good today.

Saturday

 All found looking fine on north flank of the hill at 8am. 

Wednesday 18th - Staff Check

 Belated post for yesterdays staff check. All 4 were found deep in the birch along the northern boundary, looking well

Tuesday 18 August - Hiding in the Silver Birches

My first day back on lookering duty and, believe it or not, it was raining as I got out of my car!  Also, the mobile phone signal was poorer than usual so I couldn't get an update on the NoFence picture I'd seen before leaving home.  But I don't think they could have moved much as I found them hiding where they had been, deep in the silver birch trees in E5 close to (what is normally) the Gelvert Stream. A couple were lying down and steer 200 was as startled as I was when we came suddenly came face to face.  They all appeared fine.

The 'spring' in the NW corner is running well to fill the pool there and the pond has sufficient water.

2.30pm, Mon 17 Aug, All 4 found, 20m on the left as entering the site, all quite close together

They were grazing amongst the ferns and gorse and looked fine.

The fire hydrant area and pond still have water

Sunday 16th August - All 4 seen

At 15:45 this afternoon, steer 200 and cow 201 were having a refreshing drink from the pond. Afterwards, they both climbed the bank to join me on the grassy area along the western side. Steers 207 and 208 were finishing their grazing in the pasture to the north of the main path, but soon wandered over to join us. All four took turns coming over to say hello and enjoy some attention, with steer 200 particularly enjoying plenty of neck scratches.

Once the greetings were over, the four gathered around me and relaxed, chewing their cud. Although it was cooler today, with extended periods of cloud cover, there were still plenty of flies about. The cattle gradually edged closer as time went on, happy for me to help keep the flies away from their faces. Steer 200 eventually came right up to me and tucked his head into my side, seemingly quite content to just stand there with me. After a good while, he repositioned himself for a long back scratch, shifting around enthusiastically as I reached all those particularly itchy spots.

After saying my goodbyes at 16:50, cow 201 and steer 207 wandered off to the southeast to graze, while steers 200 and 208 remained resting and watched me leave.

The pond still had some water in it, although the level was noticeably lower than last Sunday. The cattle continue to favour entering from the northern bank, even though it is a little swampy, and they end up with muddy feet. Before leaving, I also walked over to the fire hydrant in the northwest corner, where some additional water was still pooled just inside the fence line for them to drink.

The cattle were all good today.