The bull is having a bad reaction to daylight. I know it sounds strange, but the poor chap really does have an intolerance to light. He's eaten something untoward, our best guess is St John's wort or a related plant (although how and where, no idea yet), and has rapidly developed what looks like severe sunburn.
At first we thought he had cut himself. On closer inspection, his skin was not cut, but has split - and the poor beast is looking decidedly sorry for himself. He's not the most expressive animal at the best of times, but it must sting dreadfully, and apart from injections, there's not much we can do other than keep him inside out of harm's (light's!) way. I for one am not offering to rub lotion into his hide - he may look docile, but he's a big bugger and might not take kindly to it. As farmer R says, it's the wettest June in Devon for a long time, and his bloody bull gets sunburnt.
His name isn't actually Comet - I don't think he has one, at least not to us humans, but his cattle chums may defer to him in one way or another. Comet is my attempt at light farm irony. He is white(-ish), but he doesn't streak anywhere (although now I come to think of it, he must streak all the time, being naked) - in fact, I would say that lugubrious is the perfect word for him...excessively doleful. He looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and servicing his cows is a duty that must be fulfilled, rather than enjoyed.
So, don't eat anything strange in the countryside - even if you are a bull. I am reminded of my American friend Brett who visited, and decided that he would taste some of the wild mint. Looking at his swollen mouth, I told him the difference between mint and stinging nettles. His plaintive response was "But there's nothing dangerous in the UK!"
Just tell that to Comet.
[update 23rd - yes, we found St John's wort! Even in humans taking it for depression, sensitivity to light can be a side effect. Now you know.]
