Monday 31st January

 I'm unable to properly check the cattle and sheep today due to being away during daylight hours. No issues seen over the weekend. Only comments, it's pretty messy/boggy around the broken gate Chris mentioned around Colley Close. It's great to see so many Redwings in the Western field, at least I assume that's what they are!

Sun 30 Jan

 All 61x sheep and 9x cattle accounted for. No concerns.

Sat 29 Jan

 61x sheep and 9x cattle accounted for. The old ewe appeared stiff but not limping. The cattle didn't move much when I was with them, but seemed fine when they did. Trough fine. No concerns.

The five bar gate behind Colley Close (southern end) has taken a knock and needs a repair. There are gaps underneath it where neighbours have told me that walkers' dogs are getting into the grazed enclosure by pushing under the mesh. A log laid across the opening would address this.

Six roe. Lots of skylarks.

temporary trough and containers removed for now

Thursday January 27th

 Slight mist with drizzle this morning in Barton meadow.  The sheep initially widely spread out but while I was there those in the south of the eastern section moved to the south facing slope . All 61 accounted for . All seemed fine and apart from the old ewe no limpers noticed . The 9 cattle were all lying down also on the south facing slope apart from two one of which ( 86  ) has a limp. Otherwise no issues noted . The water level in the temporary trough had fallen considerably so replenished with all the water in the two plastic containers . Given that the cattle have access to this trough and seem to have started using it , seems likely that the water will be consumed quickly so may be necessary to refill the containers soon 

Julian bevis 

Wednesday 26th January

 The electric fence has been removed. 9 cows and 61 sheep counted, The cows were in the centre and the sheep stretched out the length of the field. Two of the shetlands were limping but otherwise looking good.

Tuesday January 25th

 With one exception the cattle looked fine . There Is one though who’s number I am afraid I didn’t get who has a limp and today looked more piano than the damp cold might warrant . I mentioned this to bea who was out to look at the fence ( again ) . The sheep were all over the place and accordingly hard to count but I got to the 61 in the end . They all seem fine apart from the old ewe who’s limp persists . The cattles trough is fine as is the temporary trough for the sheep although the latter will probably need topping up tomorrow . The fence is working but it’s flashing red again . Bea is on the case ! Six deer seen four in the west field and two in the eastern part . One solo buzzard circling over Barton mark . 

Julian bevis 

Monday 24th staff check

The earth (green) wire had become disconnected from the metal earth stake which I think is what wa causing the red flashing light

Reconnected and pulse strong.

I've taken a container away will return with more water on Wednesday for temporary trough

Limp on ewe doesn't look as bad, she was putting weight on it well.

Got a pic of the lamb with the growth. No opem wound ill get some insight about it from the grazing team

Sun 23 Jan

 All 61x sheep counted. The old ewe is limping, but the others seem fine.

#114 has the cut face, but that's scabbed over already. It also has an odd growth on its left ear (looks like horn), so the cut may be linked to a growth.

Cattle seem fine.

Troughs fine.

Electric fence battery flashing red.

No concerns.

Chris

Sat 22 Jan

 61x sheep eventually counted, which took a while as they were spread out either side of the high ground at the northern end.

One of the white face sheep has a nick above its nose - clean, a bit bloody, but not bleeding, about 2cm across.

I topped-up the temporary trough, which they were drinking from.

All cows seemed fine, if sedentary.

Electric fence moved

So the cows can now graze more of the north the electric fence has been moved further north.

All sheep are now within this large field compartment.

Incase they do not like using the poached trough used by the cattle, I have put out a second plastic trough in the north where the sheep can access it, but not the cattle.

This is manually filled up, I have left two containers to do this if you see the water levels are low please fill the trough. Please let me know if more containers of water are needed. The trough is in the north east (see pic below)

Sheep drink a lot less than cows so should last a while.

The ewe in the flock of white faces has a slight limp, cows limps are the same.

Thanks,

Bea

Friday 21st January

 -5c this morning! 50 of the sheep were sleeping in the North-West corner, 11 near the cattle in the South-East corner. I broke up the ice in both troughs. All the cattle were sleeping as it was an early visit.

Thursday January 20th

 Another bright sunny day but definitely on the chilly side . The 9 cattle all looked fine albeit not displaying a great deal of energy. The sheep were well spread out 44 lambs in the western field all grazing happily. Another 16 in the long grass in the eastern field and one solo artist who preferred the company of the cattle in the southern section of the east field . All looking fine albeit a couple limping slightly ; the old ewe continues to have a slightly sore off fore and one of the all black animals seems to have a sore near fore . Otherwise everyone fine . The electric fence is working ok and both troughs ok. Six roe deer seen as well as a pair of buzzards circling over Barton mark . 

Julian bevis 

Wednesday 19th January

 Met Bea who had already checked the electric fence which was working fine. 

61 sheep and 9 cows counted.The cows were mostly near the fence and the sheep spread up the field.One of the shetlands was limping but otherwise looking content.

Tuesday January 18th

 Initially it was very hard to see anyone this morning but thankfully the mist cleared while I was there . 50 sheep were in the west field all looking fine . Their trough was frozen over but the supply wasn’t froZen and was working ok . Cleared the ice from the trough . The other 11 sheep were in the eastern field close to the top of the long grass . Of these two have slight but fairly obvious limps . Otherwise all fine . 

The cattle were close to the electric fence in the centre of the field . Most of them lying down and not wanting to get up so couldn’t tell if any limps . Otherwise fine . Their trough was also frozen which I cleared . The supply though is working ok .

The electric fence is working ok . 5 roe  deer in the eastern field in the long grass 

Julian bevis

Mon 17th January

 Beautiful frosty morning, 48 sheep were sleeping in the North-West corner of the field with the other 13 just on the other side of the gate. The cows were still sleeping, in the South-West corner so couldn't check for limping. Didn't have time to break the ice on the water trough this morning but I'm sure it will melt quickly in the sun.

Sat 15 Jan

 All 61x sheep counted and no significant limping seen. All 9x cattle seemed fine, but weren't moving enough to observe any limping. I broke the ice on the troughs. No concerns.

Fri Jan 14th

 

-1c when i first checked them -  the trough was frozen so I broke up the ice. I went again at lunchtime and counted 49 sheep in the west field, 10 in the north-east field and the two stragglers in the south east field. Of the cattle, both 102 and 103 were sitting down in the afternoon sun, I checked two hours later and they were still sitting whilst the rest of the cattle had move to the southernmost part of the eastern field.

 The deer are still present in the west field which is lovely to see!

Thursday January 13th

 An exquisite  day today . Clear blue skies no wind and after the early frost had worn off moderate temperature . 59 of the  sheep were widely spread out across the western field,  all grazing well and looking fine apart from one Shetland who has a mild limp. Otherwise no issues . Two of them had decided to act independently and were grazing by the worthy lane gates . The trough in the west field is fine . There were five roe deer also grazing in the west field . For once they seemed unconcerned by my presence in the field and only moved away when I had got quite close to them . 

The cattle were grazing contentedly at the southern end of the east field . All looking fine although I couldn’t see whether 103 was still limping as she was lying down and refused to get up . 102 doesn’t appear to be limping now . 86 has a very mild limp . Their trough is fine . 

Julian bevis 

Wednesday 12th January

 The cattle were all standing along the electric fence, not moving, so couldn't check for any problems. The fence was working but was flashing red.I let Bea know who was on site.

Sheep all counted,spread across the big field, with only one limper seen.

Tuesday January 11th

A very murky Misty day today making counting the sheep , being well spread out , an interesting challenge . Finally got the right number though after several false starts . They all look fine , grazing well and slightly surprisingly couldn’t see anyone limping . 

The cattle were initially clustered around the trough but then moved out across the north facing slope . All grazing enthusiastically and looking fine . Of those that bea identified as having limps 103 looks very sore . 102 has a slight limp and 86 seems fine . Otherwise they are all fine 

Trough full and water supply working ok. The electric fence hasn’t been knocked down yet and is working fine . 

Julian bevis 

Mon 9th Jan staff check

The cows are now back in the south with an electric fence, hopefully the charge will hold now better as it's had a fair while to recharge.

All 61 together, they can go underneath the electric fence if they want too, but just incase they are apprehensive I have opened the gates into small field for an additional water supply

3 cows spotted with a limp to monitor.

Very slight limp on no. 86, more pronounced on 103 and 02, grazing team informed.

Sun 09 Jan again

 Didn't spot Bea's post before heading out. All livestock accounted for and all seem fine. Trough full and working.

Had a nice chat with the contractor, who's working weekends until he finishes the job. Five very contented roe observed proceedings from the western enclosure, where a buzzard was trying his luck with the redwing.

Sun 9th

Got a call from the public about a distressed sheep so went to investigate. Said waa covered in bramble

All sheep seem well, some do have vegetation in their fleeces but ut is not a lot nor affecting movement.

Cows got very excited by the presence of a feed bucket.

Hope to reinstate an electric fence soon but noticeable difference in grazing already in the south.

Sat 08 Jan

 All 61x sheep and 9x cattle accounted for. Sheep very spread out and grazing happily. Cows grouped up at the northern end. No concerns.

Trough full and working.

70-80 redwing on the ground in the western enclosure. 10 fieldfare in the centre hedge.

Friday 7th Jan

 All 61 sheep accounted for (seem to be well integrated) and 9 Cattle. Seeing the deer all of the time now in the West field since the sheep and cattle moved to the East field.

Friday 7th Jan - two lame shetlands

Two lame adult shetlands treated for limping, both front left. No signs of foot damage looks like they have mild sprains. We will keep an eye on them. 

Happy new year

Grace 

Grazing Team 

Thursday January 6th

 The nine cows were spread out along the middle of the median strip between the east and west sections of the field . Not a lot of action today ; they were just standing gazing vacantly into space or watching the roe deer grazing in the west section ., apart from looking rather chilled they all seemed fine. The sheep were in two groups; one , the largest and comprising mainly the lambs were spread out across the south facing slope of the long grass area . They were all fine apart from the old ewe who is still limping . The other much smaller group which was mainly made up of the shetlands and was in the middle of the north facing slope of the long grass area. There are now three limping in this group . Two seem quite sore , as previously reported one has a sore off fore and the other has a problem with the near fore . Additionally there is now a third one which has a less pronounced limp . Otherwise all seemed ok. The trough was frozen over so broke the ice and cleared as much as I could . The water supply is functioning ok .  Five roe deer seen . 

Julian bevis 

Wednesday 5th January 2022

 61 sheep and 9 cows counted.All near the top of the big field. Two of the Shetlands were limping badly and kneeling to graze.A couple of sheep were also coughing.Otherwise,looking good and mixing well in the sunshine.

Tuesday January 4th

 The stock in Barton meadows were widely scattered today . The nine cattle were in the north west corner of the field close to the gate to the west section . None of them grazing when I saw them , they were just standing looking rather bleak as the mornings brief snow showers swirled around them. They all seem fine albeit a little chilly.,the sheep were in two groups one on the south facing slope in the long grass . This group was exclusively made up of lambs  all grazing happily despite the bleak weather and looking fine . The other larger group was spread across the north facing slope and the bottom of the dip in the field . A mix of lambs and shetlands . Of the latter, two were limping one with a sore off fore and the other with the near fore obviously causing discomfort . Both animals were very reluctant to put any weight on the affected feet and preferred to stay lying down . The old ewe is still lame . Otherwise all fine and all accounted for . Their trough is fine , full and working properly . Three roe deer seen . 

Julian bevis 

Monday 3rd January

 I wasn’t able to check them all today as they were so spread out and my visit was in the dark but the sheep and cattle I did see were fine.

Sat 01 Jan

 All 61x sheep and 9x cattle accounted for. One of the ewes has joined the Shetland flock, to keep us on our toes. No concerns with the cattle or the sheep - and only the old ewe was limping. Trough working fine.

The hedge contractor was back again yesterday and has laid a further section, which looks really good.

Happy New Year!