No. 24

Yesterday when I was coming back from Maruia Falls I noticed a couple of paddocks populated by cows and calves wearing coats. Now I've seen horses in coats and even seen lambs in coats, but I'd never seen cows or calves in them.

So today I couldn't resist going back out for a closer look. The cows weren't in roadside paddocks today but the calves still were. While I was photographing them the farmer came along to see what I was doing - which necessitated a chat about calves, blip and the state of the world.

He told me that the stock had been losing a bit of condition so they put coats on them to help them warm up - the warmer they are the less food they burn for warmth and the more goes into body condition. Makes sense, just not something I'd seen in NZ, I guess because we're comparatively warm here.

Calf number 24 couldn't resist being rude and every time I snapped her she had her tongue out - she clearly wanted to be my blip today.