Latest news with #cattle disease
Telegraph
01-08-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Clarkson's farm ‘locked down' for two months after TB outbreak
Jeremy Clarkson's farm will have to be locked down for at least two months after his beloved cows were hit by an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis. The former Top Gear host, 65, said the outbreak was 'absolutely dreadful' and that his Oxfordshire Diddly Squat farm was 'sort of paralysed'. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease of cattle and badgers that often results in the culling of every animal that tests positive. Clarkson said the affected cows would have to be culled because 'it's the law'. He said the farm shop, which thousands of people visit each year, would remain 'unaffected' as the disease has no impact on humans and only impacts cows on the farm. On Friday, his week got even worse when it was revealed one of his newborn puppies had died. Speaking on Times Radio about the bTB on his farm, he said: 'It's awful, it is awful. 'You have a test every few months on the cows and then you sort of become blasé, it's a hypothetical threat. 'Then the vet looks up as he did yesterday lunchtime and said, 'I'm really sorry this one's failed'. 'So that means we're now locked down and it's just dreadful, absolutely dreadful.' He added: 'What's been hypothetical is now very real here. Nothing can come onto the farm and nothing can leave it – we're sort of paralysed.' 'Farming? I'm not enjoying it this week' On how long it would impact the farm, he said: 'Certainly two months because that's how long we have to wait before we do another test. 'It's only been not even 24 hours since I found out and it occupies my mind. 'Honestly, farming? I'm not enjoying it this week.' As well as the emotional trauma of losing his cows, their culling could cost the presenter tens of thousands of pounds and lead to a shortage of beef products in his shop. Clarkson has spoken before about how badgers are rife on his farm and how he has tried to keep them away from his cows. But, even with an Amazon budget and celebrity profile, the presenter was unable to stop transmission of the bacteria from badger to cow. The animals are protected by law from being killed, leaving farmers with little defence in protecting their herds and livelihoods from the pathogen. The Diddly Squat herd is thought to be Beef Shorthorn, which is a pedigree breed that produces a high standard of meat and is ideal for British climes. The news of Clarkson's cattle came as the presenter and Lisa Hogan, his partner, welcomed 11 puppies to Diddly Squat on Sunday.
The Independent
01-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
What to know about bovine tuberculosis as disease hits Diddly Squat Farm
Jeremy Clarkson 's Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds has been hit by an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) among its cattle. Clarkson announced on 31 July that the farm team was "devastated" after a pregnant cow contracted the disease, with tests for the beloved bull Endgame proving inconclusive. Following failed biannual tests for some cattle, the farm is now under restrictions, preventing the buying or selling of cows, though the Diddly Squat shop remains unaffected. The infected pregnant cow, carrying twins, will be culled, a decision Clarkson described as "awful" and emotionally distressing for the farm. Bovine TB is a chronic respiratory disease that primarily affects cattle, often leading to culling to control its spread, though human transmission is very rare. What is bovine tuberculosis? Everything you need to know about the disease affecting Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm
