At Phoecle Green: Out-wintered cattle....x

Its an unusual sight to see cattle with frost on their backs. Most cattle would have been returned to their shed and fold yards for the winter. There is nothing wrong with wintering cattle outside, or 'out-wntering', if the ground and conditions are right for the animal. Cows are, like horses quite suited for cold conditions, given that they have some good shelter, a supplemented diet and a field that is not over stocked.

These Herefords have seem to have the perfect out wintering field. Its gentle slope provides good draining. Cattle, like horses are notorious poachers, ploughing up the ground with almost every step. Its a harsh site, seeing any animal knee deep in mud, but perhaps worse in winter, when the grass will not recover. So once mud, its perpectual mud.

Equally there is nothing quite like the sight of either a well stocked shed, with the steam rising off warm backs, puffs of steam from shiny black noses. Just the same, the frost glistening down the white stripe down a Herefords back, slow faces look up and snort out a hot steamy puff of air.

Its a priceless British countryside shot, for me anyway.....x