Western Fen isolation herd

 Another cow from another site has tested inconclusive for bovine TB so has been brought to the Western Fen to join what has now become an isolation herd. Please continue to check them as normal and ideally check the cattle in Ashley Meadow before going to those in the Western Fen. 

Thank you! Jo 

cattle update

Third cow added to isolation herd

Wednesday 30th July - Robin Findlay

 Two cattle present in Western Fen at 10am this morning, feeding along the western fence. Pasture pump checked and working OK

Two cattle present in Ashley Meadow at 11am, sitting down alongside the Eastern fence. Annoyingly hidden behind a tree so it was a long trek round the meadow to find them. Electric fence and pasture pump checked out OK

29/7/25 Jo

 Checked both sets of cattle today, all well and happy, both pasture pumps working as they should, as is the electric fence. 

Jo 

Important update, Please read

 After our routine Tb test today 2 of the 4 cattle have been tested as inconclusive for Tb. Legal requirement require us to now isolate the two cattle away form any other cattle until a period of 60 days has passed and they can be retested to confirm if they have Tb present.

To do this we have split the cattle between the two grazing fields on site. With the inconclusive cattle in the new grazing field. We have completed some fence checks and cleared a few fallen trees off the line. A pasture pump has also been installed on the boundary with the ditch parallel with the path that goes to the viewing screens.

Thank you for your continued checking of the livestock and please get in contact if you have any questions regarding this.

Kind regards,

Grazing team

Friday 25th July 2025

Cattle all present and correct at 08.30, towards the northwest of the meadow, only just visible from the gate. Even Richard disappeared from sight! Pasture pump seemed a bit slow, but Elizabeth gave it enough pumps to fill it. Fence seemed to be working OK, although she didn't physically test it this week! Some vegetation already touching the fence bottom, but she had learned her lesson! 

By 09.30 the Grazing team had arrived with trailer. We had a brief chat with them but they were in a hurry as the vet was already on his way. We weren't able to stop and help, but left them calling the cattle from near the gate. We hope they responded!

The vegetation in the meadow has gone down a lot since the cattle have been there. They eat well. 

The keep very clean . There are no flies around them.  That is good for the cattle but is that a bad sign of loss of insects?

Wednesday 23rd July | Robin

 Checked the cattle at 9:30am and all four animals present today - three were in the middle of the meadow slowly moving towards the south end.  I had to hunt for the fourth but it was hidden from view, browsing the tree line against the west end of the fence 50m further north.   When I came back from the screens an hour later, all four animals were close to the pasture pump

Electric fence and pasture pump were both working

TB test today 22nd July

 The grazing team did the initial part of the TB test today and all the cattle were well. They will be back again on Friday to read the results of the test. 

Jo 

Friday 18th July

Elizabeth checked the  electric fence and the pump (both working well) while Richard set off to find the cattle which were nowhere to be seen. 

R eventually found them by the north fence behind some overhanging trees. They.were quietly standing there chewing the cud. 

15th July - Jo

 Cattle all well and grazing in the middle of Ashley Meadow. 

14th July - Jo

 Checked cattle today, all moving well and were grazing or drinking near the pasture pump. 

Friday 11th July 2025

The cattle were half way up the field at 8 am. Richard easily found 3 of them together in the sunshine in the middle. R  had to search for  number 4 . It was  quietly eating in the shade. 

Elizabeth checked the pump and the fence. Both are working well. 

The vegetation under the fence needs trimming. We did some trimming.

Elizabeth and Richard 

Wednesday 9th July. Robin Findlay

Checked on the cattle between 11.30 and 12.00.  Weather warm and I had to walk the full length of Ashley Meadow to find them seeking the shade in the far north east corner. All 4 animals were under the trees right up against the fence. One animal was on its own, the other three were together 

Checked the electric fence (which was all intact) and the pasture pump which was operating fine.  I filled up the reservoir.  Evidence of fairly fresh cow pats by the pump so it looks like they are using it

Cattle 7th july - jo

 Cattle checked today, all well and grazing near the pasture pump. Electric fence working. 

Friday 4th July Richard and Elizabeth

All 4 cattle were in sight of the path so were easy to find and check. They were quietly eating and slowly moving around. The electric fence and the pump were working. 

Wednesday 2nd July. Robin

 Checked cattle, all four on their feet and feeding near the north west corner of the meadow.  I checked the pasture pump - pumped it a few times to fill it up.  Electric fence is intact

Monday 30th June - Jo

 Checked cattle, all well and near the pasture pump feeding. 

Wednesday 25th June

 Cattle checked by volunteer Robin, all together, looking well, all on feet moving and feeding.