Bovine TB outbreak '˜devastating news' for Bedfordshire farmers

A reported outbreak of Bovine Tuberculosis in Bedfordshire has been '˜devastating news' for a farm affected.

According to the National Farmer’s Union (NFU), Bedfordshire is one of the counties affected by the latest outbreak.

And it has forced one Bedfordshire farm to cull dozens of its animals as a result.

A farmer told us: “We now have an outbreak of Bovine Tuberculosis in our area, devastating news for the farm involved.

“The local farm here has just had about 75 animals culled. Having always been clear of TB it was a total shock to them that the animals tested positive.

“Many of them were pedigree dairy cows, which had been in the milking herd for many years. Half of their dairy herd has been lost.

“It is just impossible to explain the awful feeling when these animals are taken off the farm and away in a lorry.”

Bovine Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis) which can cause TB in badgers, deer and other animals. Badgers are recognised as a carrier of the disease through their waste and through coughing and sneezing, and via contamination of cattle foods in troughs and stores.

The woman added: “The dairy industry is already struggling for survival. Please back British farming by looking out for the red tractor food label and buying British wherever possible.”