Wednesday 16th September - All 25 seen

At 16:45 this afternoon, steer 210 was happily grazing in the pasture near ///ounce.shell.square, northeast of Horse Pond. He spotted me approaching and wandered over to say hello before enjoying a shoulder rub. Cows 211, 212, and 1396 were resting in the heather about 35 metres further southwest, but all took turns standing up to greet me before enjoying long neck and back scratches. Cow 211 was very affectionate, offering plenty of licks when I stopped for a rest. As I was leaving at 17:30, cows 211 and 1396 had settled back down to rest and chew their cud, while steer 210 and cow 212 grazed nearby. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after 17:50, the remaining twenty-one cattle were all at the Beacon Hill Road end of the site. Steers 33, 197, and 1640 were resting and chewing their cud in the heather near ///hairpin.airbase.remedy. They were all happy to be approached for their checks. Older steers 30 and 35 were grazing contentedly in the sunken area to the south. Steer 35 spotted me approaching and came over to say hello before having the loose gorse brushed from his back. The remaining sixteen were well spread out in smaller groups grazing among the gorse and heather further south near Odiham Road. They very helpfully came out of the bushes to say hello, with most enjoying strokes and rubs as I made my way around checking on them.

By 18:30, steers 20, 219, 222, 270 and 271, along with cows 72 and 234, had gathered in the area near ///chill.beast.facelift, where they continued to browse the gorse bushes. The other cattle continued to graze in the surrounding area to the south. Steers 219 and 222, along with cows 72 and 234, all thoroughly enjoyed extra-long back rubs, while steer 270 had all the loose gorse brushed from his back before he settled in for neck and chin scratches. I said my goodbyes at 19:15, leaving all twenty-one peacefully grazing as darkness began to fall. The whole group was happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

The cattle were all good today.

Tuesday 15th September - All 25 seen

At 16:50 this afternoon, steers 20, 21, 30, 35, 227, 230, 270, 271 and 1626, along with cow 72, were happily grazing among the trees and bushes to the west of James Bond Pond. They were especially enjoying the leaves from the silver birch trees. As I wandered around checking on them, they would emerge from the thicket to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs in the warm sunshine. The group gradually moved further west, with youngsters 230 and 270 the first to cross the path to graze on the far side. Youngster 230 was more than happy to enjoy a long back scratch while relaxing and chewing his cud. His wound continues to heal nicely. Cow 72's ear was looking pretty much the same as at the weekend and didn't appear to be causing her any discomfort. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:40, youngster 222 was munching on grass at the bottom of the hill south of James Bond Pond, near ///ripen.drip.functions. Although alone, he seemed happy enough and welcomed me with gentle head rubs before standing for long neck and back scratches. He especially enjoyed his back scratch, shifting around enthusiastically to make sure I reached all his itchy spots. Afterwards, he got back to grazing and was moving absolutely fine, suggesting he just wanted some alone time. When I bid him farewell, he walked with me for a while before being distracted by another patch of grass. I reluctantly left him on his own, confident that he knew where the group of ten were, having been with them earlier in the afternoon.

At 18:00, I found youngster 197 grazing among the heather near ///tech.dwarves.lushly, north of Sandy Hill. He spotted me approaching and greeted me with several moos before walking over to say hello. After some attention, he walked with me north-east to find steers 219 and 1626 grazing near ///tidy.refilled.spike. Youngster 219 was quick to say hello and position himself for a back rub. Steer 33 and cow 940 were grazing contentedly among the bracken in the pasture on the northern side of the valley, while steers 219, 220, and 228, along with cows 214 and 234, were grazing along the side of the path further north, near ///kettles.erupts.named. They were all very friendly as I wandered around checking on them. Before I said my goodbyes just after 18:35, the group grazing along the path had moved into the pasture south of the path and were enjoying plenty of heather. All ten were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

Finally, at 18:45, cow 211 was enjoying plenty of long grass growing among the bracken, near ///purist.them.fuses, close to the water treatment compound beside the covered reservoir. She was taking full advantage of not having a collar and was grazing just inside the NoFence boundary. She was very affectionate, offering gentle head rubs and plenty of licks after enjoying neck and head strokes. The other three Sussex cattle – steer 210 and cows 212 and 1396 – were grazing contentedly 50 metres further southwest. All three were looking stunning in the setting sun. The girls were happy to take breaks from their grazing to thoroughly enjoy back rubs. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well. I left them all peacefully grazing at 19:15 as the light was beginning to fade.

There was a heavy military presence at several parts of the site today, including at the cow shed and in the woodland east of James Bond Pond. There were also numerous vehicle movements, including large troop carriers and logistics trucks.

The cattle were all good today.

Update – Youngster 222 was still grazing southeast of James Bond Pond when I was leaving the site, but I kept an eye on him and, by 20:10, he had returned to the first group of ten cattle, who were now resting in the pasture near ///sock.interacts.thin.

STAFF CHECK Monday 14th Sept

After Gordon contacted Ned this afternoon regarding Sarah's ear, I came to check on her and the rest of the stock.

4 Sussex and 1 Shetland by James Bond pond quite happy.

Found the other 18 right near entry into the site, Sarah #72 ear is spliced a bit from her ear tag but it isn't raw or bleeding and is just digging in further than it has been previously. It is scabbed and dry with no signs of infection so happy to leave it for the mean time and monitor and we will address changing the ear tag at TB test time, unless it become infected or worse prior to.

Thank you for your continued support

The grazing team

Monday 14th September - All 25 seen

 Between 06:15 - 08:30

All seen in 2 groups…

///collected.hops.unite 210,211,212,1396 and 230 were just north east of Horse pond. They were all grazing on the heather and looking quite content with life. 211 and 212 were particularly happy to receive some back and neck rubs. 

///sheds.upstairs.globe the remaining 20 were all near the Beacon Hill Road entrance, most were still lying down but were starting to get up for a stretch as I moved between them all. The cut on Sarah’s ear was the same as in Gordon’s picture from yesterday. Maybe the metal tag needs to be removed to help it heal. Other than that all the cattle were good this morning.