Sooty and forestry surveys
As reported in last week’s diary Sooty won the face book poll and officially became South Ormsby’s favourite bull. John Crutchley, Herd Manager, was delighted at the outcome as Sooty is a really special bull, great grandson of John’s favourite bull Charlie (who we pictured him with early this year showing John stroking his forehead). John has an equally good relationship with Sooty who will also allow him to pet him (although we don’t recommend others seek to engage within this … it definitely just John he allows this privilege!).
Sooty’s parents were Daddy Rumford Goodfellow and Mummy Rumford Lucia (or Sire and Dam as they are correctly titled) and his Great Grandfather was the afore mentioned Charlie (Biddlesden Great Expectations).
Sooty was born on 15th February 2013 and weighed 34kg. This was a good weight and led John to believe that along with his shape and genealogy he would make a good bull. He is now 5 and a half years old and weighs in at about 1050 kg……before the mating season he would have been even heavier at approximately 1200 kg. Sooty is currently in a field with 24 cows and their children –16 heifer calves, 5 steer calves and 4 bull calves. He is worth over 5500 guineas as he is pure blood stock and will be expected to be ready to mate and help us expand our herd again next April. The gestation period for a cow is almost the same as that for a human, 9 months and 1 week.
Despite his size Sooty is content on a diet of grass and silage but does enjoy a bit of barley in the winter. Whilst he is normally a docile creature, he is not afraid to stand up for himself as he proved when Puzzle (we have four bulls; Sooty, Puzzle, Squire and Prospero) escaped from his own field and challenged Sooty! John had to separate the mighty beasts with the help of his Teleporter… not a job for the fainthearted!
Elsewhere on the estate Sara Bright was out and about carrying out a tree survey for us. Sara is an arboriculturist who had received some of her training at our own Riseholme as well as the highly respected college at Pershore. She had quite a task ahead of her and is yet to finish as we do have several thousand trees.
Of course, the Massingberd family have always been keen tree planters from Drayner in 1650s right up to the Squire, Adrian Massingberd Mundy who died in 2012. We are equally keen to promote tree growth and manage the woodland in a responsible manner. Sara will report on dangerous trees as well as if any have Dutch Elm disease or Ash die back.
She has a few favourites that she drew our attention to including the silver pendant limes and a beautiful field maple at Driby as well as a giant beech tree in front of Calceby Manor. She talked to us about our veteran trees, how they developed character over the years with hollows, crevasses, bumps and growths and reminded us that they acted as habitats for thousands of insects, fungi and animals. Some of our trees are between 200 and 300 years old!
