Wednesday 5th August - All 25 seen

Thanks, once again, to Ned for going out and checking on steer 1640 and spraying his wound with antibiotics. There was still a good coating of blue spray on it when I saw him late this afternoon, with very few flies trying to get into it. He was up and about, happily grazing with the other cattle in the sunshine. The rest of the herd also had significantly fewer flies around them and seemed much more comfortable after being sprayed at lunchtime. Unfortunately, it meant there were no strokes or scratches for the herd today, despite lots of puzzled looks, gentle nudges, and plenty of head rubs as they tried to persuade me otherwise.

At 16:30 this afternoon, steer 210 and cows 211 and 1396 were resting under the trees west of Horse Pond. They were all relaxing and chewing their cud in the cooler conditions. Steer 197 and cow 212 were sitting just outside the wooded area, still enjoying the shade and the refreshing breeze. Cow 211 soon got up to say hello, but was happy simply to stand close while continuing to chew her cud. All five were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 16:50, a mixed group of fourteen cattle was well spread out, grazing in a large half-circle to the north and northeast of Horse Pond. They were enjoying plenty of fresh grass and leaves from the trees and bushes as I made my way around checking on them. By 17:10, steers 21, 30, 217, 219, and 1640, along with cows 72, 214, and 940, had moved onto the slope of the valley north of the pond, near ///bump.warp.hogs, to graze on the grass growing at the base of the bracken. They were all thoroughly enjoying their grazing, with a nice breeze keeping them cool. By 17:30, several of the cattle had gathered on the northern bank of Horse Pond for a drink before settling down to rest. Youngsters 219 and 222 soon wandered into the pond to graze on the lily pads, while youngster 230 preferred to stand in the water and relax for a while before joining them. As I was leaving the area to check on the next group, steer 20 and cow 234 were relaxing on the hillside to the north of the pond.

At 18:05, steers 35, 220, and 271 were resting under the trees beside the main gate into the covered reservoir. Older steer 35 came over to say hello, while the youngsters relaxed and chewed their cud. Youngster 228 was happily grazing among the tall grass in the swampy area to the southeast. He soon waded through the mud to greet me. All four boys were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after 18:20, Sussex steer 1626 was grazing on the hillside among the bracken below the Lookout, near ///either.inserting.nesting. Although alone, he appeared perfectly content. He spotted me approaching and came over to stand beside me for a while. After saying goodbye, he followed me as I headed southeast, but soon stopped to graze again.

Finally, at 18:35, I returned to Horse Pond and found most of the cattle, including the five Sussex cattle from the first group, gathered on the bank at the northeast corner, resting and chewing their cud together. Youngster 227, who I had missed earlier, was initially standing under the trees west of the pond but came wandering out to greet me when he spotted me approaching. He was happy just to stand beside me while relaxing and chewing away contentedly. I said my goodbyes around 18:55, with the six Sussex cattle and steer 219 wandering off up the path to the north, while the remaining thirteen cattle headed to the pasture to the northeast for another graze.

The cattle were all good today.