Tuesday 25th August - All 25 seen - Steer 230 has an injury between his hind legs

At 16:15 this afternoon, the seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 33, 35, 219, and 228, were lying among the bracken on the slope west of Horse Pond, near ///folks.examine.sigh. They were all resting and chewing their cud in the sunshine, happy to be approached as I made my way around checking on them. Youngster 219 had buried himself in some dense gorse, but stood up to say hello before settling in for a long back scratch. Youngster 270 was resting in the heather at the top of the slope, enjoying the refreshing breeze as he relaxed. All twelve were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 16:55, steers 20, 30, 230, and 271, along with cows 214 and 234, were all lying down together in the shade near ///grad.driven.beads. Cows 72 and 940 were resting a little further to the northeast on the far side of the track. While checking steer 230, I heard rustling in the bushes behind him and went around to find youngster 220 sitting in the middle of them, relaxing and chewing his cud. They were all friendly and happy to receive some attention. Cow 234 was quick to get to her feet for a neck and back scratch.

I noticed that steer 230 had an open gash on the soft pouch between his hind legs. It wasn’t bleeding and had already started to close up. I shared some close-up photos with Grace from the Grazing Team, who were reasonably happy with it, saying the heat and sun should help it close quickly. We will need to keep a careful eye on him, particularly once it scabs over, to make sure the wound doesn’t reopen. He was otherwise fine and looked very comfortable, and as I'd already had a good check of his wound, I left him to rest instead of trying to get him to his feet. The cattle had been fly sprayed yesterday, which explained why very few flies were being attracted to his wound. The other eight cattle were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

Finally, at 17:35, steers 21, 222, and 227 were grazing among the gorse bushes further east near the fenced-off area, near ///sectors.spillage.rents. They were all very friendly and wandered down into an open area to greet me and receive plenty of strokes. Youngster 222 was especially friendly, thanking me with plenty of head rubs and a few licks. I said my goodbyes shortly after 18:00, leaving them all nibbling on gorse.

As I was leaving at 18:15, I met the seven Sussex cattle and youngster 219 grazing at the bottom of Sandy Hill near ///steer.basin.stung. Several came over to greet me again, offering gentle head rubs as I helped clear the flies from their faces. Youngster 219 was quick to come over and position himself for another back rub before I said my final goodbyes.

The cattle were all good today, apart from youngster 230's injury.

Monday 24th August - All 25 seen

 Between 06:00 - 08:30

///skid.fuss.silks (near Beacon Hill road entrance) 021,230,033,270,035 and 228

///jetting.proclaims.manager 030,222,940,214,234,072,271,217,227

///rocker.bottom.strapping 020,219,220 and the 7 Sussex’s

All the cattle were good this morning enjoying the early morning sunshine, mostly grazing on the gorse and leaves from assorted trees.

217 has managed to get rid of his tracker, I found it last Friday and returned it to the farm. He now joins 211 being collar free. Also I don’t think Sarah’s collar is working hence only 22 cows showing on the tracker map.

Sunday 23rd August - All 25 seen

At 10:00 this morning, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 217, 222, 227, and 228, were resting in the grassy area north of the water tower, near ///chess.couches.remarks. They were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them, happily accepting plenty of strokes and rubs. Youngster 222 and cow 940 took turns getting up and coming over for longer neck and back scratches before settling back down to rest. Youngster 227 thoroughly enjoyed a neck and shoulder scratch before stretching out on his side for a belly rub. All eight were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:45, older steers 21 and 33 were grazing on the lower ground west of James Bond Pond, enjoying plenty of leaves from the trees and bushes near ///mole.pesky.mass. After a short while, they both climbed the bank to the gorse bushes above, picking at the tender green tips. I’ve noticed the herd eating more gorse over the past week. I wonder whether, with all the recent heat, the grass on the heath has dried out and lost some of its quality, making the gorse a fresher and more satisfying option for them. The boys were both well.

At 11:05, youngsters 270 and 271 were both grazing on gorse in the bushes along the eastern bank of James Bond Pond. Older steer 35 had been grazing in the thicket further east, but I met him in the woodland to the east of the pond as he was making his way back to the other two. All three were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 11:30, the seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 20, 219, and 220, were resting under the shade of the trees by the entrance gate to the covered reservoir. There were plenty of flies around, but the cattle didn’t appear too bothered by them and were happy to have them brushed from their eyes. They were all happy to be approached as I made my way around, with most enjoying plenty of fuss. Cow 211 was her usual affectionate self, offering plenty of licks after enjoying a long neck rub. All ten were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

After saying my goodbyes, I wandered back to James Bond Pond at 12:10, where the cattle from the initial groups had assembled in three groups along the northern bank of the pond. Steers 30 and 230, who I had seen when I first arrived on site grazing peacefully on the slope at the western end of Sandy Hill, were standing on the sandy bank at the southwestern corner of the pond. After spending some more time with each of the three groups, I made my way round to see the boys, who were relaxing and chewing their cud while trying to keep the flies away from their faces. Youngster 230 was especially friendly and thoroughly enjoyed an extended back scratch. I said my goodbyes shortly before 13:00 as the boys drifted off to graze in the thicket to the west. Across the pond, the three groups had also come together at the western end and had started to drift off towards the same area to graze.

The cattle were all good today.

Saturday 22nd August - All 25 seen

At 09:00 this morning, the seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 20, 219, and 220, were grazing at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. Cow 1396 was on the grassy patch, grazing contentedly, and was soon joined by cow 212 and steers 219 and 1640. Steer 1640's wound continues to heal nicely and was looking good today. Steers 20 and 220, along with the four remaining Sussex cattle, were grazing in the nearby bramble. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:10, older steer 21 was grazing among the bracken near ///rolled.fade.boil, while steers 30, 33, 35, 230, 270, and 271 were grazing further southwest, on the far side of the path near ///join.finds.adjusting. They were all contentedly grazing in the warm sunshine, making the most of the long grass and leaves. They all paused to say hello as I made my way around checking on them. All seven were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 10:50, the remaining eight cattle were gathered at the southeast corner of James Bond Pond. Cows 72 and 940, along with steers 217, 222, 227, and 228, were lying down on the sandy area by the water's edge, relaxing and chewing their cud. Cows 214 and 234 were grazing in the thicket to the south, but after about fifteen minutes wandered over to join the others. Youngster 222 was soon on his feet and came over to say hello, greeting me with gentle head rubs before settling in for an extended neck and back scratch. Over the next while, the others took turns getting up and coming over to greet me, each thoroughly enjoying a long back scratch while relaxing in the sunshine. As I said my goodbyes at noon, they began drifting south, climbing the bank and heading off to graze. All eight were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

As I was leaving, the boys from the second group were resting among the trees and bushes to the west of Horse Pond. Youngster 230 must have been in the pond enjoying the lily pads, as he was soaking wet when he came over for some fuss. By 12:35, eight of the cattle from the first group were resting in the shade of the woodland just along from the cow shed, near the cattle grid, while cows 212 and 1396 were grazing to the east.

The cow shed has also been painted inside and out, covering all the graffiti and giving it a much-needed freshen-up.

The cattle were all good today.