Saturday 17th October – All 25 seen – Steer 220 was a little out of sorts today

At 09:00 this morning, steers 21, 33, 35, 197, 217, and 219, and cows 211, 212, and 1396, were happily grazing in the southern end of the eastern pasture of Camp 45. They all had dew-covered faces from grazing in the wet grass. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over and say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs.

The remaining cattle were all in the western pasture. Steers 30 and 220 were browsing leaves in the thicket, while the others were either grazing on the long grass or standing in the sunshine at the side of the path, relaxing and chewing their cud. Youngster 222 was especially affectionate, wandering over to greet me as soon as he saw me approaching and giving me the sweetest head rubs. He thoroughly enjoyed a neck rub before positioning himself for a lengthy back scratch. The others were all friendly too, pausing their grazing to greet me and enjoy plenty of fuss.

While in the western pasture, I took the opportunity to remove the leaves floating on the surface of the water troughs. The trough nearest the bowser was full, with the neighbouring trough just under half full. Youngster 227 accompanied me to check the troughs and, after having a drink, settled in for a long neck rub.

Youngster 220 was a little out of sorts today, preferring to keep to himself and staying within the thicket in the centre of the site. I saw him eating, wandering around, resting, and chewing his cud at various points, and he didn't appear to have any injury or anything specifically wrong with him. I checked on him several times and spent a good while with him, but he seemed a little withdrawn. He did come over to say hello and enjoyed a brief back scratch before going to stand under a tree to chew his cud. Perhaps he's just taking time to get used to his new surroundings, but he's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

I wandered around, spending some quiet time with each of the cattle, and they were all happy, relaxed, and looking well. By 10:55, many of the cattle in the eastern pasture had started to lie down and chew their cud in the sunshine. Most of the cattle from the western pasture had made their way over to join them. Steers 227, 228, 230, 270, 271, and 1640, however, remained where they were and settled down in the western pasture. Older steer 35 spent a good while at the completely bone-dry stream, obviously expecting to find drinking water there as usual. After a while, he emerged and settled down by the path.

I said my goodbyes at 12:20, leaving them all peacefully resting. Youngster 220 had settled down under a tree in the central thicket and was peacefully chewing his cud.

The cattle were all good today.

Tuesday 13th October - All 25 seen

At 16:05 this afternoon, steers 33 and 197 were resting peacefully on the hillside near ///matter.snapper.folks, southwest of Horse Pond. Cow 1396 and steer 1640 were grazing contentedly nearby, but both stopped to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes. While I spent some time with steer 197, steer 33 got to his feet and wandered over to join us, happy to stand close and chew his cud. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 16:20, cows 212 and 940, along with steers 210, 219, 222, and 227, were spread out grazing near ///gratitude.says.payer, about 230 metres to the northeast. Youngster 222 spotted me approaching and came straight over for a lengthy neck and back scratch. He had clearly been in Horse Pond shortly before, as he was still soaking wet. The others took turns coming over for strokes before returning to their grazing. They all seemed happy and healthy. After saying my goodbyes, cow 212 and steer 222 walked southeast alongside me to the next group of cattle, with youngster 219 trailing quite a distance behind. He frequently mooed to let me know he was following.

By 16:55, steers 20, 21, 30, 35, and 270, along with cows 72 and 211, were well spread out grazing in the pasture near ///lodge.ready.laughs, enjoying the last of the sunshine. Youngster 230 was a little further east, munching on sweet chestnuts beneath the tree near ///mows.labels.gradually, while Sussex steer 1626 was grazing deep in the gorse bushes in the pasture to the south, on the far side of the path. They were all friendly, wandering over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs before returning to their grazing. The nine were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition. As I was leaving, steer 210 also arrived to join the group.

At 17:30, cow 214 and steer 228 were peacefully grazing in the pasture near ///steam.glue.tells, close to the main path. Cow 234 was grazing on the grass alongside the path, while youngster 220 was enjoying plenty of heather beyond the gorse bushes on the far side. Steer 227 and cow 940 had joined them too. The girls both enjoyed lengthy back scratches before crossing the path to graze some more.

Finally, at 18:00, steers 219 and 271 were grazing among the heather and gorse in the pasture near ///brew.shows.truck, south of the Lookout. They both seemed a little surprised to see me, but took turns coming over to say hello. Both seemed perfectly happy. Although they weren’t far from the rest of the herd, they seemed happy to carry on exploring by themselves. After I said my goodbyes at 18:15, they wandered off the other way, heading into the gorse bushes to the west.

The cattle were all good today.

Tuesday 13th October - staff check. *Cattle moving to Camp 45 on Friday*

Majority of herd relaxing near Sandy Hill except 271 and 217 who were lurking suspiciously in the sandpit area. All looked good. 

Cattle will be moved to Camp 45 for TB testing this Friday 16th. 

Sunday 11th October - All 25 seen

At 09:45 this morning, a mixed group of nineteen cattle were spread out grazing along the length of Sandy Hill. They ranged from youngsters 230 and 270 grazing among the gorse near ///email.dolls.trails to cows 214 and 234 grazing on the grass at the western end of the hill. The vast majority were grazing in smaller groups among the gorse bushes along the edge of the hill or further down the slope. They were quick to spot me through gaps in the bushes, poking their heads out before coming over to say hello. They were all very friendly, with most enjoying having loose pieces of gorse brushed from their backs before settling in for long neck and back scratches. Youngster 228 was especially friendly, following me as I went around checking on the others, occasionally giving me gentle nudges and head rubs to remind me that he wanted more attention. The cattle gradually drifted west along the hill, continuing to graze contentedly.

By 10:55, steers 20, 197, and 219 were grazing deep among the gorse bushes on the hillside near ///taxed.pods.fattest. As soon as youngster 219 spotted me, he quickly made his way out to say hello before settling in for a lengthy back scratch. He enthusiastically leaned into the scratch, shifting his weight from side to side whenever I reached a particularly itchy spot.

At 11:15, I was incredibly lucky to spot cow 211 lying on a patch of grass behind some gorse bushes on the hillside near ///nooks.multiply.fixture as I took a shortcut to look for steers 210 and 1640. She was absolutely fine but seemed to be enjoying some quiet time away from the others. She thoroughly enjoyed a long neck and chin scratch before thanking me with several licks. The boys were grazing in the gorse bushes about 110 metres further west. I wouldn't have found cow 211 today if I hadn't taken that route.

At 11:30, I found cow 940, the final member of the group, grazing on the grassy area southwest of James Bond Pond. She had wandered west and joined cow 234 and steers 33 and 220, who were all having a rest. I said my goodbyes shortly afterwards, leaving all four to make their way back towards Sandy Hill. All nineteen cattle — cows 211, 212, 214, 234, 940, and 1396, and steers 20, 21, 33, 35, 197, 210, 219, 220, 227, 228, 230, 270, and 1640 — were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 11:50, the remaining six cattle were grazing beneath the Lookout near ///ironic.tasty.truly. Steers 217 and 271 were the first to spot me approaching and wandered over to greet me. Youngster 222 had been grazing further west but quickly came wading through the mud to say hello before settling in for a lengthy neck and back scratch. Cow 72 appeared about ten minutes later, making her way through the dense bracken to the northwest. She stopped for a drink from a pool of water before coming over for some attention. Steers 30 and 1626 were grazing further west, but steer 30 gradually made his way back to the group. I said my goodbyes just after 12:30, with steers 30, 217, 222, and 271 and cow 72 all resting peacefully and chewing their cud. Steer 1626 continued grazing contentedly on his own.

The cattle were all good today.