My family have farmed here and the adjoining farm for a total of 80 years. Never had any cattle test positive for TB. An outbreak occured at a farm about a mile away, and a couple of farms along from there last Autumn. Yes, we have badgers here, but because we had no cases, we assumed our badgers were clean, and whilst you have clean badgers, no infected badgers will be allowed into their territory. OK, with the outbreak nearby, it did cross my mind .....but no major worries.
We rent some land by the house to an old man who keeps suckler cows. He has been bringing his cows for 10 years. Lovely little herd, built up when he started his own farm over 50 years ago. Mothers and daughters in his herd, and even grandmothers. Never buys any in, just keeps a couple of calves to replace the old ones, when they die of old age.
He had his TB test in December. We are on 4 year ones, not being a high risk (or we weren't until the recent outbreak). Two of his cows were suspect, and had to be re tested in 60 days. That 60 days was Monday this week. Vet returned yesterday to check, and they both had the lumps on their necks. So, unfortunately they will be culled next week. The farmer is devasted, and so am I. He will now have to have his herd tested and monitored and is in effect closed down for selling his stock. Also, his cows are due to calve shortly, so not only will he lose two cows, but also two unborn calves, which I find really upsetting. And until the cows are opened up after their death, its still not certain they actually do have TB. If it turns out they haven't, well ......
I have not had any stock on the land, although I was just about to buy some weaned calves in and run them on for the summer, and was going to put them on this land. But I would be in the same boat when it comes to selling - having to have tests etc. I feel its not worth the worry, in a way, which is a shame.
The farmer had said its unlikely he will be bringing any more cows to our land - not that I blame him. But we will lose the income for one thing.
As to why its happened, well, I was never convinced about the badgers causing it, but now I don't know. What I do know, is that the farmer next to our fields, has had two cows with TB. He has land where the outbreak occured last Autumn, as to whether his cows were up there I don't know. Maybe its not our badgers, but his cows?
Short of someone trapping the badgers, culling the infected ones, and releasing the healthy ones, I am not sure what the answer is. Maybe there is a vaccination for badgers to stop TB?
What I do know is that we are all in shock by what has happened.
Topic: I am totally numb with shock (Read 4816 times)
