At Home: Inquisition......

Cows are so nosey. Nosey but naturally wary. Thats a good thing. Their strength is in their team effort. A bit like horses, you will always have a leader, someone who is more confident. There are others who are more shy. They skulk behind the rest. Its an array of white to beige to brown tones as you gaze over their backs. They dont stay still or long. Like with horses the flies keep them moving. Nose to tail, rubbing each other, lowering their heads under each others shade.

I love cows. I help round up a beautiful herd of Herefords. I love the family too that owns them. They have continued the bloodline down through five generations. Its a stunning sight. The calves, stand ing the sunshine, the distinctive white stripe and knee high boot markings on red coats. Its a matching sight across the herd. Its a daily struggle for this family to keep their herd intact. I herd that their bull contracted TB, their are testing others. If so they will be shot right there on the farm. Five generations of pride, passion and knowledge over in one day.

Gloucestershire farmer, David Barton's blogs documents the day he has face his TB infected herd being shot. He calls the day on his blog Trying to express the inexpressable

British farming should be not just seen through the car window as you drive through the countryside. British farming is British food. It should be, like David Bartons blog. Seen and heard.