In summer it means a pleasant walk round the farm, in winter it can mean a wet and cold trip on the quad to the bottom of the farm to check on such stock as are out. If there's ever a problem we check more often, particularly when calving or lambing when we practically live with the animals. One insomniac farmer near here always checks his dairy cows at 1.30 am before he goes to bed. The Ministry vet who came round over a week ago said that in his opinion, the most important part of being a stockman was watching the animals. Checking animals is hardly arduous.
Cows especially are very therapeutic.
You can't feel too wound up when cows are gently chewing the cud. News Click GO to stream the live ITN News channel to your desktop.