Latest news with #Endgame
Agriland
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Agriland
Jeremy Clarkson confirms Diddly Squat farm is down with TB
Jeremy Clarkson has said everyone at Diddly Squat is "absolutely devastated" after confirmation of bovine TB on the farm. The star of the hit Amazon TV show shared details of the TB outbreak on his social media channels today (Thursday, July 31). According to Clarkson "the offending animal is pregnant with twins". Source: X The tv star received thousands of messages of support from fans on social media sympathising with him over the TB confirmation. Clarkson also shared that "Endgame" the prize bull which featured in the last series of the Amazon show has tested inconclusive for TB. "I couldn't bear it if we lost him," Clarkson told his followers on social media. Separately the National Farmers' Union (NFU) today announced that a new research project is underway on the impact of TB vaccination among badgers on rates of infection. According to the NFU the three-year project has been driven by farmers in Cornwall who want to "better understand" the impact badger vaccination may have, both in preventing TB in the badger population and in cattle herds. The joint NFU and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has been awarded financial backing of £1.4 million from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). An earlier project, on a small scale by ZSL and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, found that the number of badgers testing positive for exposure to TB dropped from 16% to 0% over four years of vaccination. The latest project will pilot three different vaccination approaches to determine which delivery model works best at scale in a cost-effective way: Standard approach – Annual vaccination over four years, following the current badger vaccination guidelines; Intermittent – Vaccinate every other year (year one and three) with the aim of reducing delivery costs and enabling faster expansion; Targeted – Reactive vaccination based on TB breakdown holdings and nearby farms. Martin Howlett, who is an NFU member and livestock member, is taking part in the project. He said: 'My farm was repeatedly hit by TB over a 15-year period. Losing cattle, even if it's only a few each time, takes a massive toll on the family and the business, which was essentially frozen. What I remember most from that time was a constant sense of dread. 'Wildlife control played a key part in helping us to eradicate TB on our farm and we've been TB-free for five years now, but we know this measure won't be available forever. "It's vital we look at other tools to ensure we can continue to reduce cases.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- 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.'
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Bovine TB found on Diddly Squat Farm, Jeremy Clarkson says
The TV presenter wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that a pregnant cow has contracted the disease on the farm near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. In a post on X, Clarkson wrote: 'Bad news from Diddly Squat. We've gone down with TB. 'Everyone here is absolutely devastated.' Asked in the comments about the prize bull called Endgame, which Clarkson bought recently for £5,500 featured in the latest series, he said: 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' He later wrote: 'The offending animal is pregnant with twins.' Bad news from Diddly Squat. We've gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated. — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 31, 2025 Clarkson also clarified the disease is Bovine TB, which does not affect people but 'just our poor cows'. Cattle which fail a TB test, or animals that have inconclusive results for two consecutive tests, and are classed as 'reactors', must be isolated then to slaughter. Bovine TB is recognised as a problem which devastates farm businesses, spreading from badgers to cattle, and from cow to cow. Badger culling has long been a part of the Government response to the disease, despite criticism from wildlife and animal welfare campaigners. The Government last month said it will not be extending the badger cull and retains its commitment to end the practice before the next election. Oxfordshire is an 'edge area' for TB, meaning it is a buffer zone between high risk and low risk areas – so most herds are subject to six monthly TB tests by default. There have been several cases in the area of Oxfordshire near to Diddly Squat Farm in recent weeks, according to ibTB, a mapping platform for the disease in England and Wales.
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- 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.'
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Bovine TB found on Diddly Squat Farm, Jeremy Clarkson says
The TV presenter wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that a pregnant cow has contracted the disease on the farm near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. In a post on X, Clarkson wrote: 'Bad news from Diddly Squat. We've gone down with TB. 'Everyone here is absolutely devastated.' Asked in the comments about the prize bull called Endgame, which Clarkson bought recently for £5,500 featured in the latest series, he said: 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' He later wrote: 'The offending animal is pregnant with twins.' Bad news from Diddly Squat. We've gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated. — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 31, 2025 Clarkson also clarified the disease is Bovine TB, which does not affect people but 'just our poor cows'. Cattle which fail a TB test, or animals that have inconclusive results for two consecutive tests, and are classed as 'reactors', must be isolated then to slaughter. Bovine TB is recognised as a problem which devastates farm businesses, spreading from badgers to cattle, and from cow to cow. Badger culling has long been a part of the Government response to the disease, despite criticism from wildlife and animal welfare campaigners. The Government last month said it will not be extending the badger cull and retains its commitment to end the practice before the next election. Oxfordshire is an 'edge area' for TB, meaning it is a buffer zone between high risk and low risk areas – so most herds are subject to six monthly TB tests by default. There have been several cases in the area of Oxfordshire near to Diddly Squat Farm in recent weeks, according to ibTB, a mapping platform for the disease in England and Wales.
