Tuesday 12th May - All 25 seen - High tick numbers across the herd

At 16:35 this afternoon, sixteen members of the Caesar’s original herd were spread out resting in the heather on the hillside near ///dices.genius.pelted. Youngster 220 was the only one up, grazing contentedly among the nearby gorse bushes, but he soon wandered over and lay down beside the others. It was a funny old afternoon, cloudy one moment and bright sunshine the next.

The group were all very friendly, happily accepting strokes as I made my way around checking on them. Shortly after I arrived, youngster 222 got up and wandered over to say hello, greeting me with affectionate head rubs before leaning in for a long, relaxing neck scratch. Several of the others also stood up as I approached, keen to enjoy back scratches while chewing their cud. All seventeen were happy, relaxed, and looking well. It seems we’re experiencing an especially active tick season this year, with the cattle carrying ticks on their necks, briskets, flanks, inner hind legs, and across the warm, sheltered areas of their undersides.

By 17:25, the cattle had started to get up, have a good stretch, and wander over to the hillside on the far side of the path to the south. They grazed happily, gradually moving in the direction of Horse Pond. Steers 21, 30, 227, and 228, along with cow 214, moved over to graze at the foot of Sandy Hill. I said my goodbyes at 17:50, leaving them all happily grazing.

Shortly before 18:00, the seven Sussex cattle, along with youngster 219, were resting in the heather in the pasture south of James Bond Pond, near ///mills.huddle.lend. They, too, were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them. Cow 211 enjoyed a long neck and shoulder rub and thanked me with plenty of affectionate licks. Youngster 219 waited patiently for me to reach him before standing up for a shoulder rub, followed by an extra-long back scratch. The others soon started to get up and move into the gorse bushes to the north to graze, while he seemed perfectly happy to stand and be fussed over. I said my goodbyes just after 18:30, leaving all eight peacefully grazing.

The cows were all good today.