Latest news with #AberdeenAngus
Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Jeremy Clarkson 'devastated' as beloved cows to be culled amid TB outbreak
Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed that his farm has suffered an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) among its cattle - meaning his cows will have to be culled to prevent the disease spreading Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that his Diddly Squat farm is reeling from an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) among its cattle. In a post on X, he described the situation as "devastating," clarifying that it's bovine TB - meaning it's unlikely to be transmissible to humans - and that affected cows will be removed under disease-control rules. Cattle that test positive for bTB are required to be culled under UK laws to prevent the spread of the disease. Farmers are typically compensated for animals slaughtered due to bTB, although the amount may vary depending on factors like the animal's age and whether farm rules were followed. It comes after Top Gear host admitted he 'never got along' with Jeremy Clarkson as he made a bold statement. What is Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB)? Bovine TB is a chronic respiratory disease in cattle, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. This bacterium also infects other mammals like badgers, deer, goats, pigs, and occasionally cats and dogs. Transmission among cattle typically occurs through coughing, sneezing, or contact with contaminated urine or feces. The disease may also spread between cattle and wildlife - especially badgers. Routine testing - typically skin tests every six months - is mandatory for UK farms and aims to catch the disease early. Impact for Clarkson's Farm An initial positive test led to the farm entering a mandatory lockdown, meaning no cattle movements. In an update on X, the former Top Gear presenter confirmed people can still visit the farm, but no cows can be bought or sold. While livestock operations are suspended, the farm shop stays open to the public and remains unaffected. Responding to someone who said they hoped his herd recovered soon, Clarkson simply said: 'They have to be culled. It's the law.' Culling an entire herd has been described as 'one of the most distressing things that farmers will go through' by Thérèse Coffey, the former environment secretary. Responding to a well-wisher who said he hoped Clarkson's new prize-winning Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, would be spared, the broadcaster said: 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' He also revealed that the offending animal which caused the spread of TB on the farm, believed to be a cow, 'is pregnant with twins'. Can it be transmitted to humans? Humans are at very low risk of catching bTB, especially in the modern UK. Pasteurisation and meat inspection protocols have almost eliminated transmission via dairy or meat. There have been very rare human cases - involving older individuals or unpasteurised dairy consumption - but today such infections are exceptionally uncommon. Clarkson confirmed this on X, writing: "It's Bovine TB… it doesn't affect people, just our poor cows." How common is Bovine TB among UK farms? Bovine TB remains a significant challenge for UK farming. As of March 2025, government data indicates there were thousands of new TB herd incidents in Great Britain each year. For context, nearly 44,000 herds existed in England alone, and close to 2,000 were not officially TB‑free in recent data. Historically, case numbers peaked in the southwest and Wales, with Scotland having much lower incidence rates. Factors that increase bTB risks include trading cattle from high-risk areas, larger herd size, and proximity to previously infected farms. Efforts to control Bovine TB Traditional control in England has involved test-and-cull regimes and localized badger culling - though badgers account for a relatively small proportion of cattle infections (less than six percent). More recently, farmer-backed trials in Cornwall have successfully vaccinated badgers, dropping infection rates from around 16 percent to zero - offering a promising alternative to culling. The strategy remains under review, as officials and farming groups increasingly focus on cattle testing, biosecurity, and vaccination options for long-term control.
Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jeremy Clarkson faces culling his beloved herd of cows after 'devastated' star revealed Diddly Squat has been hit by TB outbreak
Jeremy Clarkson may face culling his beloved herd of cows after the 'devastated' TV star revealed that Diddly Squat Farm had been hit by a TB outbreak. The 65-year-old broadcaster and farmer took to X to share the 'bad news' on Thursday, stating: 'Bad news from Diddly Squat. We've gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.' Amid concern that the outbreak may be affecting members of staff, Mr Clarkson later clarified: 'I should clear this up really. It's Bovine TB that we have. It doesn't affect people, just our poor cows.' He also revealed that the 'offending animal' that had tested positive for TB was pregnant with twins. In response, one fan asked if Endgame, his prize-winning Aberdeen Angus bull, was infected. 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him', Clarkson replied. In cases of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, infected animals are often destroyed to prevent the spread of the infectious disease. More than 21,000 animals were slaughtered due to a TB incident in England between April 2024 and March 2025, with animals that fail a TB test or have inconclusive results for two consecutive tests killed. One supporter said they hoped his cow and its unborn calves at Diddly Squat Farm (pictured) would recover. Clarkson replied: 'They have to be culled. It's the law'. In cases of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, infected animals are often destroyed to prevent the spread One supporter said they hoped his cow and its unborn calves would recover. He replied: 'They have to be culled. It's the law'. Thérèse Coffey, the former environment secretary, previously described culling due to TB as 'one of the most distressing things that farmers will go through'. At a reception held by the National Farmers Union (NFU) at Westminster in September 2023, Ms Coffey said that despite the harmful impacts on farmers, the government would be 'led by the science' and would 'cull for as long as we need' in order to become 'bovine TB-free'. The Labour administration previously promised it would stop the cull by 2029, carry out a census of badgers and also develop vaccines for badgers and cattle. Bovine TB can be infectious to all mammals, including humans, and is mainly transmitted through nose to nose contract or through contact with other infected droplets, such as milk. Oxfordshire, where the popular Diddly Squat farm is located, is currently graded as an 'edge area' for TB. Given it is set between both high and low-risk area, most herds will be subject to TB tests on a six-month basis. Last year the former Top Gear presenter was visited by Thames Valley Police officers after activists reported blocked setts on his land near Chadlington, Oxfordshire. Under UK wildlife law it is illegal to damage, destroy, block or disturb badger setts. Clarkson said he told the police who came out to visit him that he had no reason to fill in the setts - because he shot all the badgers instead, seemingly under licence. The TV host wrote: 'Mercifully, however, I had the perfect excuse: 'I've shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts?' And yes, before you ask, it was all legal.' On previous series of Clarkson's Farm, its star has discussed the threat of TB for his cattle - and went on a rant about 'b*****d' badgers. Clarkson said it was one of the most difficult areas to protect from. 'We thought, 'What do we do?' because if you want to make a popular show you have to say, 'Oh, look at the little cuddly-wuddly badgers.' But I thought: no, it's a farming show, and you'd lose your core audience, the farmers, if you went around, saying, 'Look at these sweet little animals,'' Clarkson said. 'So, I actually called them b*****ds and showed people what they actually do. It's truthful. 'These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is what badgers do. This is how much heartache they're causing to people who've worked for generations to build up a farm that's been wiped out by badgers', he said in 2023. Badgers had made an unwanted appearance in the second series of Clarkson's Farm, which aired on Amazon Prime. One scene saw him told his cows were at risk of contracting TB due to the presence of badgers on the farm, one of which tested positive for the bacteria that causes the disease. In 2023 Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper held back tears as he discussed the 21 dairy cows he co-owns with a friend on Instagram. Three contracted Bovine Tuberculosis. Kaleb admitted in a video: 'Now today's a bit stressful. Today I've just found out the place where I have my dairy cows – the 21 cows that I bought – has got three reactors to TB.' 'I don't really know how to describe the emotion. I know I mean it's not all my cows and I don't know how he [the other owner] feels – but it's hard.' He continued: 'It's not good. Three reactors, so, therefore, we've got to test again in two months' time. That's three cows we've lost that are milking.' A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told The Telegraph: 'Bovine TB is a devastating disease that destroys farmers' livelihoods. Our hearts go out to all farms suffering from positive cases. 'The Government and its agencies are working hard to introduce measures to reduce the spread and paying compensation to farmers who lose animals to this disease.' 'We are determined to eradicate bovine TB, rapidly rolling out badger vaccinations to help protect farmers' livestock.'
NZ Herald
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Jeremy Clarkson faces heartbreak as TB outbreak threatens farm
Clarkson later clarified on X: 'I should clear this up really. It's Bovine TB that we have. It doesn't affect people, just our poor cows.' Responding to someone who said they hoped his herd recovered soon, he simply said: 'They have to be culled. It's the law.' It marks the latest blow to the running of Clarkson's 1000-acre farm, which he has been documenting through the hit Amazon series Clarkson's Farm as he tries to make the business profitable. Responding to a well-wisher who said he hoped Clarkson's new prize-winning Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, would be spared, the broadcaster said: 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' The TV presenter introduced Endgame to his herd of seven cows at Diddly Squat with high hopes of producing new calves, but things did not go to plan for him in the latest series. He grows increasingly confused as the prized bull shows little interest in the female cows, prompting Clarkson to quip: 'He's gone the wrong way. 'Seven ladies and he's not even bothered. Now they're chasing him. Why are they chasing him? Why did the cow just mount the bull? Do you get gay cows?' He also revealed that the offending animal which caused the spread of TB on the farm, believed to be a cow, 'is pregnant with twins'. Some 40,000 cattle are culled every year as a result of bovine TB infection, causing devastation to farmers. More than 21,000 animals were killed because of a TB incident in England between April 2024 and March this year. Last year, the presenter turned farmer was visited by police after activists reported blocked badger setts on his land, which is illegal under UK wildlife law. He insisted that his defence was that he had shot all the badgers, which spread TB on farms, under licence. He wrote at the time: 'Mercifully, however, I had the perfect excuse: 'I've shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts?' And yes, before you ask, it was all legal.' Clarkson has previously ranted on the show about the threat of TB for his cattle from the 'bastard badgers'. 'These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is what badgers do. This is how much heartache they're causing to people who've worked for generations to build up a farm that's been wiped out by badgers,' he said in 2023. Sir Brian May, the Queen guitarist, has previously argued that badgers are not responsible for the spread of TB among cattle. He has launched a high-profile campaign to stop a badger cull for more than a decade, which has turned him into a villain in some farming communities. Clarkson has discussed their role in spreading TB to cattle on the show, with one scene in the second series showing him explain that cows are at risk of contracting the disease because of the presence of badgers on the farm. 'If you want to make a popular show you have to say, 'Oh, look at the little cuddly-wuddly badgers,'' Clarkson previously wrote. However, he added: 'But I thought: no, it's a farming show, and you'd lose your core audience, the farmers, if you went around, saying, 'Look at these sweet little animals'. So, I actually called them bastards and showed people what they actually do. It's truthful.' Clarkson bought the Diddly Squat Farm in 2008, but it was run by a villager until his retirement in 2019, after which the veteran broadcaster decided to see if he could run it himself. Over the years, he has faced numerous challenges, including bad weather damaging crops, piglets being accidentally squashed to death by their mothers and planning battles with his council over the building of a restaurant. A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 'Bovine TB is a devastating disease that destroys farmers' livelihoods. Our hearts go out to all farms suffering from positive cases. 'The Government and its agencies are working hard to introduce measures to reduce the spread and paying compensation to farmers who lose animals to this disease.' 'We are determined to eradicate bovine TB, rapidly rolling out badger vaccinations to help protect farmers' livestock.'
Metro
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Jeremy Clarkson 'forced to cull farm's cows' after devastating disease outbreak
Jeremy Clarkson has told followers he's 'absolutely devastated' after learning they have a case of bovine tuberculosis on Diddly Squat farm. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is one of the biggest challenges facing the cattle farming industry in the UK and all infected animals have to be put down. The former Top Gear presenter, 65, shared news that the infectious disease had been detected in his cattle, in a post to X on Thursday (July 31). 'Bad news from Diddly Squat,' Clarkson wrote. 'We've gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.' When Clarkson clarified that by TB he meant bTB, @knox_ryder77 replied saying they hoped the cows recovered soon. Clarkson then explained: 'They have to be culled. It's the law.' Meanwhile, @robjohnsonrj1 shared their commiserations in the comments sections, writing: 'Been in that situation in the past! Devastating as the heard could well have to be culled. Feel for you JC let's hope the offending beast can be quarantined and culled.' Clarkson replied to share that the 'offending animal' that had tested positive for TB was pregnant with twins. When a follower asked after Endgame, an Aberdeen Angus bull that Clarkson bought in his Amazon Prime show Clarkson's Farm, the TV presenter said the cow's test had been 'inconclusive'. He added: 'I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' Clarkson had previously saved Pepper the cow from being sent off to an abbatoir, after initially going back on a promise he made to care for her to Rosie, the five-year-old daughter of Pepper's former owner. The TV presenter turned famed farmer and his partner Lisa Hogan were then left heartbroken when a group of piglets on the farm suddenly died. Speaking to and other press, Clarkson shared: 'You don't say, 'Let's buy some pigs and hope they die,' I've always liked pigs.' Under British law, animals with bTB have to be put down because the disease is extremely contagious and can demolish large herds of cows. bTB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. It can also infect badgers, deer, goats, pigs, llamas and alpacas – leading to the infamous case of Geronimo in 2021. Cattle are tested for the disease because it is zoonotic, so can pass to humans, so staying on top of it limits the risk to the population. The UK's meat and dairy products would also not be accepted for exports if we didn't have comprehensive bTB testing. The disease spreads slowly in cattle, so they often do not exhibit symptoms before it is picked up. 'I thought it would be fun to have them, and then they just died in alarming numbers. 'It was just terrible. I mean they still die, but we're getting more used to it now, we're a bit more robust.' He added: 'We're a bit stronger at dealing with it now. But it was a very heart-breaking time.' Clarkson continued by saying that he's also 'very fond' of his goats and cows on the farm, despite Cooper telling him to 'kill' the goats to 'sell' and 'eat'. 'But I actually thought, no I want to keep them because I like them, but the pigs you have to sell them, otherwise nobody would keep pigs if you didn't eat them. More Trending 'There would be no cows or pigs in the country if people didn't eat them.' He added: 'So in order to have the animals you have to eat them at the correct time, and it is weird, because you love them and you give birth to them and you nurture them and you feed them, you take care of them, you get the vet round when they're poorly. 'And then you kill them and it is a strange place to be when you haven't been a farmer all your life but we are getting better at it, we definitely are.' Metro contacted Jeremy Clarkson's representatives for further comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Clarkson's Farm fans in shock after Lisa Hogan reveals 'terrifying' plane crash wreckage MORE: Jeremy Clarkson is launching 'ruthless' Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ITV spin-off series MORE: Jeremy Clarkson ruffles feathers as he brazenly reveals advert that was 'banned'
Daily Record
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Jeremy Clarkson 'devastated' as Diddly Squat farm struck by TB
Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm has been rocked by the 'bad news' Jeremy Clarkson has announced his Diddly Squat Farm has been struck by a bout of TB. Staff at the Oxfordshire farm are 'devastated' by the 'bad news' the former Top Gear host said on X today. Clarkson, 65, said: 'Bad news from Diddly Squat. We've gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated. 'The offending animal is pregnant with twins.' The Amazon Prime star then clarified it's Bovine TB that has been detected, and he further tweeted: 'I should clear this up really. It's bovine TB that we have. It doesn't affect people, just our poor cows.' One X follower questioned the condition of Clarkson's prize-winning Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, and the presenter replied: 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' Bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle can often mean infected animals are destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease. Last year Clarkson was visited by officers from Thames Valley Police over claims by activists that he'd been blocking setts on his estate, which is illegal. He later said he'd told police he shot the badgers instead so had no need to block the setts. He revealed at the time: "Mercifully, however, I had the perfect excuse: "I've shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts? And yes, before you ask, it was all legal." Clarkson has spoken out about the risk of TB outbreaks on the farm in the past and in one episode of Clarkson's Farm, he ranted about 'b*****d' badgers, which he found impossible to prevent. He said: 'We thought, 'What do we do?' because if you want to make a popular show you have to say, 'Oh, look at the little cuddly-wuddly badgers.' But I thought: no, it's a farming show, and you'd lose your core audience, the farmers, if you went around, saying, 'Look at these sweet little animals'. "So, I actually called them b*****ds and showed people what they actually do. It's truthful. "These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is what badgers do. This is how much heartache they're causing to people who've worked for generations to build up a farm that's been wiped out by badgers." Kaleb Cooper, Clarkson's co-star on the Amazon Prime show, also addressed the disease as he revealed three of his own 21 dairy cows had contracted bovine TB. Visibly emotional, he said on Instagram in 2023: "Now today's a bit stressful. Today I've just found out the place where I have my dairy cows – the 21 cows that I bought – has got three reactors to TB. "I don't really know how to describe the emotion. I know I mean it's not all my cows and I don't know how he [the other owner] feels – but it's hard." An episode in season two focused on the presence of badgers and the threat they posed to cows due to carrying the bacteria that causes TB.
