Jeremy Clarkson has announced the ‘devastating’ that Diddly Squat farm is facing an outbreak of TB.
The farm has become arguably the most well-known in the country due to his hit Prime Video, show Clarkson’s Farm.
This saw Clarkson decide to take on the running of a farm he owned after the retirement of the previous farm manager.
Diddly Squat has grown to be a farm that produces a large variety of goods with a number of different animals, from pigs to chicken to sheep.
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Despite this, the cows on the farm get the most screentime on Clarkson’s Farm, and the presenter even once said he had found his ‘true calling’ when forced to help deliver a baby calf.
This makes the news that the cows are suffering from an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis all the more devastating.
What could happen to Clarkson’s cows as a result of the outbreak?
The result of a bovine TB outbreak can be horrific.
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All herds are considered by DEFRA to be ‘OTB’ until evidence suggests otherwise, standing for Official TB Free. When there is a suspected case of TB they become ‘OTBS’, saying their OTB has been suspended.
Any cow found with TB has to be separated from the rest of the herd and, by law, needs to be sent to slaughter.
The worst-case scenario, in which the outbreak has already spread before the initial infected cow has been separated, could even see the entire herd culled to prevent a further outbreak from occurring.
As well as costing Clarkson thousands, the move could be devastating emotionally as it could see his entire herd killed.
Has the outbreak affected Clarkson’s £5,500 breeding bull ‘Endgame’ and what has the presenter said so far?
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One of the highlights of the newest season of Clarkson’s Farm was his purchase of the nearly £6k breeding bull by the name of Endgame.
Clarkson announced the news on X, posting: “Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”
One fan specifically asked about Endgame, with Clarkson stating the jury was still out on what would happen to the fan-favourite cow.
He replied saying: “His test was ‘inconclusive’. I couldn’t bear it if we lost him.”
The presenter went on to reveal that the ‘offending animal’ who contracted TB was pregnant with twins in a heartbreaking reveal.
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Fans online were heartbroken to hear the news, with one replying to Clarkson’s tweet saying: “Been in that situation in the past! Devastating as the herd could well have to be culled.
“Feel for you JC let’s hope the offending beast can be quarantined and culled.”
Topics: Jeremy Clarkson, Clarkson's Farm, TV and Film, TV, Animals
Michael Slavin