How many of us, I wonder, have really studied what a dairy cow does when it is tired? The natural lying down behaviour begins when the animal sniffs at the ground while it slowly moves forward in search of a suitable place to lie down. When the cow has found a suitable place, it shuttles its head from one side to the other to examine the place. Then it bends its front legs, kneels and, finally, carefully moves one hind leg under its body and lies on it. The lying down behaviour requires enough space so that it can be carried out in a normal way and the head and body of a fully developed cow are thrust forward 0.6 to 0.7 metres during the lying down process. When the cow wants to get up in a natural way it firstly rises to its knees and afterwards the hind part of its body is swung up via its knees, which function as a rocking point. This movement is one of the greatest physical activities of cattle -natural lying down behaviour is the reverse of the movements of the natural getting up behaviour. In the open, cows often carry out lying down and getting up activities in one continuous movement but when cows are kept indoors their movements may be hampered by space shortage and/or hard and slippery flooring. Lying down and getting up movements may be interrupted at different stages or the movements may be carried out abnormally. Where cows exhibit abnormal lying down/getting up behaviour its frequency increases with age. Each lying down/getting up procedure may last for several minutes instead of the usual 15-20 seconds and five to six seconds, respectively. At the same time there is a higher risk that the cow will injure herself. An example of abnormal lying down behaviour is where the cow bends one or both knees about to lie down, then stops and gets up again and stands on all four hoofs again. Similarly, an example of abnormal getting up behaviour is where a cow rises like a horse, not on her knees but with her front legs straight. Receiving a ticket!
Some of our local drivers, not least those who run Fast Tracks, will be interested to learn that Britain's speed camera system may be challenged by a European Court ruling. The European Court in Strasbourg will hear evidence from human rights group, Liberty, that UK motorists' rights are being undermined by current anti-speeding laws. At present, drivers have to declare whether they were driving a vehicle caught on camera, or say who else was behind the wheel. Liberty claims this is unfair and goes against the principle of a right to silence and not incriminating yourself. Senior human rights judges will be told that existing laws breach a fundamental principle of British justice - namely the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. If the challenge is successful, then it would seriously damage the usefulness of Britain's 6,000 roadside cameras in catching speeding motorists. Lawyers for Liberty claim that an individual's 'right to silence' is a vital cornerstone of the law. Last year, two million drivers were caught by speed cameras, resulting in fines of around £120m. Campaigners claim many drivers are penalised for momentary lapses of concentration and that the sums generated by speed camera fines are essentially a 'hidden tax' against Britain's 34 million motorists. Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation assures me: "This is a high-profile, important case whose outcome may affect millions of people." Rising energy costs cause alarm
Alarming increases in the costs of fuel oil, electricity and water in recent months, with forecasts of more to come, are sending panic signals around the agricultural industry. This was evident as several hundred farmers, their wives and family members, from across a huge area of Wales, attended an information day at the Gelli Aur Dairy Development Centre last week. Promoted by the Pembrokeshire Machinery Ring, the afternoon and evening seminars served well to focus on measures which might be implemented to considerably reduce input costs. Help and advice was also available from various consultants on such diverse aspects as solar power, wind generators, soil heat recovery, water turbines, bio mass and bio diesel. Roland Long, of the Environment Agency, suggested that, due to climatic changes, there were hotter, drier summers and milder, wetter winters in prospect and that energy needs would also change with time. He also warned against complacency on dairy farms: he said a million litres of water was needed to chill a million litres of milk - with mains water costing 0.07p per litre this amounted to a huge annual charge, particularly if this water was allowed to run to waste. "The Pembrokeshire Bio Energy Initiative will focus on Energy Crops such as miscanthus and reed grass at an open day next Wednesday, October 25, between 11 am - 3 pm. Located off the lay- by on the A 40 half a mile east of Green Bower (Canaston Bridge- Haverfordwest road) visitors may inspect Wales' only commercially grown energy crops site, pick up information and learn of marketing opportunities. Anyone requiring more information on growing 'the fuel of the future' should ring 01437 720730."