Just missed Joanne!  It was 1615 when I got there, fresh from scanning our ewes at Merrist Wood. I don't think the Bramshott ladies liked the way I smelt!!  They were fine in J and K 8 but seemed to have switched to browsing heather.

visited today at 3.30

All three heads down eating young gorse slightly spread out in the center of the heath field all seems calm and well. X

visited today at 2.30

Strangely one of the cows  (it's impossible to read the no.)was standing all alone in the undergrowth immediately right of the access gate (used by the model plane people etc),I couldn't see the others at all. So after going on a mission the other two were in the dead fern off the track that leads to the main cattle gate into the big field. They both look greyer and wetter for some reason.hope they find each other ok.x

visited today at 12.45

All the girls standing close to one another in fact as I watch they are trying to climb on each others back for some reason 😄😄.they all look fine and are right near the fallen pine in the heath field. X

Hi folks, yes I'm still alive, just don't go over there as much now due to parking, Army etc but did pay a visit today.  We saw the cows at around 10:30am between J11 & K11 all with heads down. Didn't venture very close but they did look quite contented and look very well.  I also checked the trough which was very frozen. I managed to crack the ice eventually and remove most of it (VERY COLD)! I also put a large stick in as Guy mentioned but don't know how long that will last. On a positive note, listening to the weather forecast just now, it's going to warm up now, phew!

visited today at 2.30pm

All three girls were standing fairly close together in the very middle of the heath field, looking very clean and white, they still haven't forgotten the apples cos they followed me again. Bless em, nice to know they recognise me though. X

Seen today at 1115 hrs in J8 browsing heather and gorse that the sun had melted the frost from.  All three very well and contented.  Went to the trough and re-broke the ice.  There is a useful stick in the trough.

All Seen Monday

I caught up with them at around 3.45 pm. I called them over and gave then some nuts. They all looked really well.

visited today at 2pm

All present and correct munching on low branches and gorse,slightly spread out just along the path from the group of large pines at the front of the heath field. X

Calving 2016

Hello all.

Well all of the late winter and spring cows in calf are now back at the farm.  I would like to say a huge thank you to you all for your help with getting them to this stage.

As you can see from the next series of photos the British whites are all in the newly designed barn and the Shetlands have the neighbouring fields.  We have straw and hay a plenty and water on tap!

In total there are 29 due to calf in the next two to three months so fingers crossed, I will keep you updated.

This year all calves will be named with names starting with C, so get your thinking caps on and email guy your suggestions.

Elliott

Icy Troughs

You may have noticed it’s getting a tad colder now! I have certainly have, and this weekend its going to be another cold one. Therefore, could I please ask anyone that’s out and about to check our troughs haven’t frozen over for us? A good tip is to find a sizeable stick and leave it leaning in one end of the trough, this way when it ices over you can simply drag it out or move it thus break up the ice : ) Simples. Thank you very much in advance ladies and gents!

visited today at 2.30

All 3 girls munching away in the center of the heath field, soaking up some well needed rays of sun.They are all looking very well. X

All good and gorging on heather

All three were by newly wind blown dead pine tree.

All were happily grazing on the heather not interested in my presence whatsoever.

All had clear eyes and ear tags present and still looking very happy.

Elliott

Today at 1315 hrs the 3 were in K/L11 grazing low grass and heather.  No time for me, too busy foraging.  They look fine and in good, all-round condition.   I haven't checked the trough for a while; ought to do so.

visited today at 2.20pm

All the girls heads down grazing in the very center of the heath field .All looks well here. X

visited today at 11 am

All the girls are calmly grazing only various gorse bushes spread out in and around the reptile patch and along the tree line at the top of the heath field. X

visited today at 3pm

All three cows laying down in amount the dead fern just to the right of the main cattle gate into the big field.  They all look pretty grey today. X

Elliotts stock check

Hello all

Visited yesterday as part of site checks.  Curious to see condition of livestock and garage levels as have not been on site for a while.

Honestly have to say the cattle look fantastic.  They are much bigger than cattle on other, larger, sites which are also receiving supplement feed blocks.  That to me says an awful lot about the forage quality as it must be giving them what they need.

All three were ripping into the short turf and old grass tussocks as I watched them, stopping only to see if I had some nuts.  Disappointingly I did not so grazing began again with Ernest.  Ther is no mineral lick out on site as the cattle do not appear to need one and these are administered on a needs only basis.

The winter grazing is so far proving a great success and if it continues like this will become part of the regular grazing regime.

Elliott

 

visited today at 4.15

All the girls standing very still half way up the large path thro the heath field. Very still.where Is their salt lick by the way I've never seen it. X

visited today 5pm

I was walking thro the middle of the heath field and the three cows were standing completely still, close together in a row. As I passed them they seemed to recognise me andrapidly followed me, I must admit I was a bit concerned as they came fast and have never done that before. They stopped by the big dead tree which is were I fed them some apples all those weeks ago. They must have remembered. I felt awful walking away with them staring at me. X

Called in about 1415 hrs.  The girls were in and around K8 with heather being dish-of-the-day.  All well and contented. Got a lick from Kitkat.  That was a first as its usually just Lola.  Rosemary keeps her distance, as ever.

visited 31st at 6pm

With all the outtings and visits over Xmas I have been walking the dogs in the dark everyday and have seen hide nor hair of the cows. All will return to normal on Monday tho. X