The Joy of Nature - big bird watch and surprising behaviour of a cow!

The cow looks very happy which is lovely to see. Apart from her amazing skills that enable her to relieve itches, she is happy having a broom to occupy part of her time.

Not all cattle would be able to use a broom, but it would be good if milk from cows wasn’t so intensively produced and enrichment provided in the form of more ‘car wash’ style bristle rollers for cows to walk through and to experiment with toys such as giant balls. Most cows are left standing in cramped conditions over winter with little room to move freely or to forage for food. 

Field are often completely deviod of trees and shrubs to increase grass coverage. But in poor weather, you see the animals huddling trying to get shelter from wire fencing and think, they would have more comfort and expend less energy if they had more natural features for protection. It is well documented how intelligent and caring cows (and many other animals are), so I'd love to see more of the things you mention. 

We don't buy animal milk, but do still have cheese, so would like to see improvements in the industry. I'm sure the calves in the spring would love a giant ball as much as a puppy.

I was at Mount Stewart today where Winterwatch is being filmed and I came across some cows in a field devoid of shelter. They were trying to seek protection against a barbed wire fence that had some trees behind it. If I could I would have moved the fence over by a few metres to give the cattle some shelter. I took a photo and would have liked to have posted it here to illustrate your point, but I’m afraid of breaking the thread.

Cinnabar_wing said:

We don't buy animal milk, but do still have cheese, so would like to see improvements in the industry

I used to buy plant milk but I’m afraid I’ve reverted to cow’s milk on my cereal in the morning. I buy it from M&S because it is stamped with RSPCA approved or something to that effect. I don’t take milk in tea or coffee.  I would like to find a higher protein plant milk if there was such a thing. I like cheese but I don’t eat it very often and if I had the willpower I would become vegan.

We used to be able to buy high welfare organic milk here that came from a small farm in Scotland. The farmer gave his cattle as good a quality of life as possible and calves were kept with their mums for a long time after birth. Brexit stopped everything and even though goods can come into N. Ireland again, it isn’t cost effective with the border administration costs so many firms won’t supply here any more. 

ArchaeC said:

They were trying to seek protection against a barbed wire fence that had some trees behind it

I always feel so sad when you see them trying for shelter, it should be a welfare to have some. It must use lots of energy to keep warm when they get soaked, so it should be a win-win.

We have so many different types of plant 'milk', I have no-sugar oat or almond on cereal, my husband has regular almond on cereal, and my son has coconut on his cereal and regular oat to drink! My daughter won't have any, unless it's true odd camomile tea, when she'll use whatever. We have black tea and coffee. The kids made their own choices! 

I would probably go vegan too if I was just cooking for myself, but not keen on having to do too many dinners!

And sorry to hear Brexit has had such an impact on getting things you should be able to. It was always going to end badly. You'll need to get a freezer for it, then drive over, buy a load and store it for use through the year!

ArchaeC said:

They were trying to seek protection against a barbed wire fence that had some trees behind it

I always feel so sad when you see them trying for shelter, it should be a welfare to have some. It must use lots of energy to keep warm when they get soaked, so it should be a win-win.

We have so many different types of plant 'milk', I have no-sugar oat or almond on cereal, my husband has regular almond on cereal, and my son has coconut on his cereal and regular oat to drink! My daughter won't have any, unless it's true odd camomile tea, when she'll use whatever. We have black tea and coffee. The kids made their own choices! 

I would probably go vegan too if I was just cooking for myself, but not keen on having to do too many dinners!

And sorry to hear Brexit has had such an impact on getting things you should be able to. It was always going to end badly. You'll need to get a freezer for it, then drive over, buy a load and store it for use through the year!