Tuesday 25 August - On Brock’s Hill

The four were in a huddle on the northern side of Brock’s Hill at 1020 this morning. They all appeared well but are still uncertain of me and remain alert with at least one keeping an eye on me all the time. 

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.

Saturday

 Couldn’t find them today at 9am. 

9.30am, 13 Aug, all 4 on the side of Brock Hill, eating the gorse with vigour

But stopped and stared once they spotted me.. looked to be okay

The pond still had water but it’s definitely getting lower and Fire Hydrant source looked to be the same

Thursday 13th August - Staff Check

All four seen well resting in the shade in the NE corner of site near Aldershot road pipe line.  

Water still flowing 

No issues to report 

3pm, Mon 10 Aug, all 4 seen on the no fence map but couldn’t get past the prickly gorse to see them

They were in the dense tree area that backs onto the Aldershot Road but i couldn’t find a way in, in shorts, to see them without being scratched by the gorse and thistles

Will be over there again this week so will look again

Sunday 9th August - All 4 seen

At 16:25 this afternoon, steer 208 emerged from the side of the bushes just off the main path, by the pond at ///friends.amps.newest, to say hello. He was content to stand close by while I helped keep the many flies away from his face and eyes. Steer 207 was standing in the bushes behind him, but soon poked his head through to let me know he was there. Steer 200 and cow 201 then came wandering over to join us, with steer 207 soon emerging from the bushes. The four gathered around me in the shade, quietly resting and chewing their cud. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

After a while, the cattle drifted into the pasture behind to graze in the warm sunshine, enjoying plenty of long grass and leaves from the surrounding bushes. They regularly returned for a break, though, often coming back to stand beside me and enjoy a little company. Steer 207 was particularly bothered by the flies, especially around his eyes, where they stubbornly remained despite my efforts to fan them away. Steer 200 was his usual friendly self, coming over for a long back scratch before leaning in for a relaxing neck rub. I regularly wiped the flies from his face as he enjoyed the attention.

I said my goodbyes at 17:15, leaving them all grazing peacefully. As I walked away, however, the boys followed me back to the main path and stood watching as I continued on my way.

While the cattle were grazing, I wandered over to check the pond, which still had some water, although the level was noticeably lower than when I checked last Sunday. Before leaving, I also walked over to the fire hydrant in the northwest corner, where there was still some additional water pooled for them to drink just inside the fence line.

The cattle were all good today.

Saturday

 All found at 8.30 just inside the entrance by the corral. All looking fine and moving well. 

Staff Check 4th Aug - all 4 seen

All 4 seen.

Cattle looking well, found them in the shade of the tree line towards the test tracks gate. They moved out to the pond area, and when I walked back through they were browsing along the main track. A couple of them a bit bothered by flies. 

Foxglove (10020) very flighty, difficult to get close enough to check over fully. 

9.45, Mon 3 Aug, all 4 in the fire hydrant area, bothered by flies but otherwise seemed relaxed and ok

3 standing and 1 sitting.  One having a good scratch against a tree.  

Sunday 2nd August - All 4 seen

Shortly after 15:00 this afternoon, all four cattle were resting in the woodland towards the northeastern corner of the site, approximately 200 metres north of the main path, near ///detective.fizzled.hits. Although they were relaxing and chewing their cud in the shade, they were being bothered by huge numbers of flies, especially around their eyes and nostrils. Steer 200 soon got up and wandered over to say hello, happy to stand close while I gently brushed the flies from his face, giving him some temporary relief. He then leaned in to enjoy some neck rubs. Shortly afterwards, the other three got up one at a time and came over to greet me. Cow 201 was a little apprehensive at first, but after seeing me spend some time with the boys, she soon wandered over too. All four cattle were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Soon after, we moved onto an open grassy area to the north, where the cattle gathered around, happy to stand close and chew their cud. They occasionally nibbled on the long grass and browsed the leaves of the surrounding trees. Around 15:30, they began to drift away, moving through the woodland and into the dense bracken to the south before making their way back to the main path. From there, they crossed over and headed to the pond for a drink. Steers 200 and 207 were the first to venture into the water, with cow 201 soon following and gently pushing her way in for her turn. The boys soon wandered over to the western bank, where I was sitting, while steer 208 and cow 201 lingered in the water to enjoy a long drink.

Steer 200 soon wandered over to where I was sitting, thoroughly enjoying a long back scratch while resting in the sunshine.  Nearby, steer 207 grazed on the fresh grass, while cow 201 and steer 208 preferred the shade of the trees to the west of the pond, where they settled down to relax and chew their cud. I said my goodbyes at 16:00, leaving them all happy, relaxed, and content.

Before leaving, I wandered over to the northwest corner of the site to check that there was still additional drinking water pooled by the Fire Hydrant sign.

The cattle were all good today.

 

staff checked

All 4 cattle looking well.

Water source checked and it has supply however we will assess over the next week or so with view to move cattle off subject to fencing being checked and suitable on next site.

Thanks for your continued support

The grazing team

Tues 28th, all 4 sitting in the dense shade in the far corner Forresters pub end

I could see them over the fence from the pathway and they looked to be fine.  One stood up and started to approach me but changed their mind.

Also checked on the pond at the other end of the site and still plenty of water in there.

Monday 27 July, not available today to check on the cows but will be over there tomorrow and later in the week.

.

Sunday 26th July - All 4 seen

Shortly after 15:30 this afternoon, the cattle were gathered in the woodland in the northeast corner of the site, near ///wakes.timer.yours, about five metres south of Aldershot Road. They all watched with interest as I approached, relaxing and chewing their cud. Steers 200 and 208 were quick to wander over to greet me, with steer 200 enjoying plenty of head and neck strokes. Steer 207 soon came over to join us, while cow 201 initially hung back before happily letting me approach for her check. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

After our initial greetings, the cattle formed a loose circle around me, continuing to rest and chew their cud. Despite the deep shade and a fairly gusty wind, they were still being bothered by large numbers of flies. They were happy to stand close, with me providing some protection from the flies. Steer 200 especially enjoyed a long back scratch.

At 15:55, they began to wander through the woodland and into the thicket to the south, where they started to graze. They enjoyed plenty of long grass and leaves from the many trees and bushes. They didn't remain there for long before making their way into the woodland to the west and continuing south towards ///grumbling.jets.march, close to Gelvert Bottom. Here, all four feasted on the fresh, lush grass, gradually moving west. Unfortunately, the Gelvert Stream was completely dry, meaning there was no drinking water available, although it did make crossing much easier. Before crossing the stream, cow 201 wandered along another trench, thoroughly enjoying the abundance of fresh grass growing along its banks. I said my goodbyes shortly after 16:20, leaving them all peacefully grazing in the sunshine.

Before making my way to the far side of the site, I checked the water levels in the pond at ///highs.modest.selection, where there was still drinking water available. After saying cheerio to the cattle, I made my way to the northwest corner of the site to check the water levels by the Fire Hydrant sign near ///community.folds.large. There was still plenty of pooled water, which was trickling into the surrounding area.

The cattle were all doing well today.