At 09:30 this morning, steers 33, 230, and 270 were foraging for acorns north of the nursery, near ///shorts.gasp.rats. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes. Unfortunately they couldn't be persuaded to stop and move on. Sussex steer 210 and cow 212 were grazing in the gorse bushes to the southeast but both wandered over to greet me. All five were happy, relaxed, and looking well.
At 10:00, steers 20, 217, 220, 228, and 271 were grazing peacefully among the gorse and heather on the hillside northeast of Horse Pond, near ///moves.noun.warp. Youngsters 228 and 271 both enjoyed long neck and back scratches before getting back to their grazing. By 10:20, youngster 220 settled down to rest among the heather. He was looking very comfortable and soon began to relax and chew his cud. All five were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.
At 10:35, Sussex steer 1640 was lying down, relaxing and chewing his cud on the hillside northeast of Horse Pond, near ///earl.remote.rekindle. He was happy to be approached for his checks and enjoyed a neck scratch while resting. Sussex steer 1626 was grazing in the thicket at the bottom of the slope to his northeast. He was enjoying gorse and leaves from the silver birch trees, but stopped for a few head scratches.
By 10:50, older steers 30 and 35 were buried deep in the gorse bushes near ///sling.baffle.bluff, about 220 metres southwest of the Lookout. They both popped their heads through the bushes to say hello. Steer 227 was grazing in the gorse bushes about 55 metres further west, near ///buggy.bulb.name. He soon came out to join me on the path before enjoying plenty of neck and back scratches. All three were happy, relaxed, and looking well.
At 11:25, cows 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 21 and 222, were spread out grazing in the pasture on the hillside west of the Lookout. The girls all climbed up to join me on a flat area to the side of the path near ///sonic.hush.anode, where they enjoyed plenty of strokes and rubs. Youngster 222 patiently waited his turn before climbing up too, greeting me with the sweetest head rubs before leaning in for a long neck scratch. By 11:55, the group had climbed up the hill and gathered in the pasture to the south. They all enjoyed plenty more attention before settling down in the grass to rest and chew their cud.
Youngster 222 also went to lie down, but after a short while he attempted to get back up and struggled a bit. He seemed to have a bit of a sore left hip, and as he wandered back over to see me, he was a bit lame on his rear left leg. He was happy to just stand and enjoy more attention, loving having the sides of his neck and back scratched. Again, he thanked me with gentle head rubs. After a good while, he went to lie down again, but this time went a bit further and settled down in the bracken to the southeast. I will keep a careful eye on him in the coming days. I eventually said my goodbyes at 12:50, leaving all five resting peacefully.
At 12:55, Sussex steer 197 and cows 211 and 1396 were grazing in the swampy area under the Lookout, near ///blushes.dorms.spoils. All three waded through the mud to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of attention. Cow 211 was especially friendly, offering plenty of licks after enjoying a long neck and shoulder rub. All three were happy, relaxed, and looking well.
All of this meant I'd missed cow 72 on my travels, so I had no option but to go back and retrace my steps. Sure enough, as the old saying goes, she was in the last place I looked! Youngster 222 and his group had moved under the trees at the Lookout. Of course, they all needed more strokes before I could leave and get on my way. Steers 30, 35, and 227 were all drinking at the northeast corner of James Bond Pond. Steers 1626 and 1640 were resting northwest of where I'd seen them earlier. The five steers were all gathered together, resting on the hillside close to where they were grazing earlier. Steers 210 and 230, along with cow 212, were resting in the bracken in the pasture northwest of the nursery. Finally, shortly before 14:00, I found cow 72 grazing in the pasture near ///card.booklets.frog, with steers 33 and 270 grazing nearby. She was very friendly and enjoyed plenty of fuss, but wouldn't tell me where she'd been hiding earlier! The good news was that she was happy, relaxed, and in good condition.
The cattle were all good today.
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