JEREMY Clarkson has revealed the “steep learning curve” he faced after a TB outbreak at Diddly Squat caused “enormous” disruption.
The TV star, 65, has been left “absolutely devastated” by the news, which is the latest blow for the hard-hit team on the farm.
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Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, which can also infect and cause disease in cats, badgers and dogs.
Jeremy explained how no cows could be introduced to, or leave, the farm until another test can be done on his cattle.
However, the ex-Top Gear host added that a calf had also become unwell following the outbreak.
Now, Jeremy has spoken out about the “enormous” extent of the disruption faced on his farm.
He told The Times he was on a “very steep learning curve”.
Jeremy told the outlet: “The disruption’s enormous, because you aren’t allowed to operate as a business.
“You have to isolate them for two months. So all the barns we needed to store the grain in, we now have to convert into a cow hospital.
“We’ve got another calf with pneumonia, so that needs to be housed.
“And we can’t buy or sell a cow now because the farm officially, you know, has TB.”
But in some good news for fans, he said the farm shop would remain open and unaffected.
Jeremy Clarkson ‘absolutely devastated’ after latest blow to Diddly Squat farm
Clarkson said reports that his farm was shut were “ridiculous”.
“We’re trying to carry on with the harvest and everything, but TB focuses the mind,” he said.
It comes after the Sun columnist revealed in another blow that his puppy died hours after he was handed the heartbreaking news about his farm.
The devastated farmer told how his puppy had died through the night.
He is also trying to care for a “very sickly calf”.
The Top Gear icon revealed he is not enjoying his new profession this week.
And on Sunday, Jeremy revealed his red Labrador Arya had given birth to 11 puppies.
He and his wife Lisa Hogan acted as midwives for the adorable pups while the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euros final.
Meanwhile, on the latest series of his Amazon Prime show, Jeremy revealed how endless rain had sparked chaos on the farm last year.
The Diddly Squat Farm Shop’s Instagram page wrote: “It’s going to be a rough year. All that seed sowed, drowned with the constant rain.”
And Clarkson’s right-hand man Kaleb Cooper was the victim of soaring tool theft after robbers nicked a £7,000 farm tool this week.
The farmer turned TV hero, 27, told fans his pricey post knocker, used for hammering in fences, had been stolen on Tuesday.
Another firm’s £70k John Deere tractor was also taken, with a burnt-out SUV car found down the road.
Meanwhile, earlier this month Jeremy slammed the “fun police” after his big-budget beer advert was banned from TV and radio.
Keen to spread the word about Diddly Squat Farm’s Hawkstone lager, The Sun columnist hired a 34-strong choir of real British farmers to sing their own version of a classic opera tune.
Hilariously, the farmers switched up the words to sing: “F*** me it’s good”.
What is bovine TB?
Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of cattle and badgers.
It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) which can also infect and cause disease in many other mammals including humans, deer, goats, pigs, cats, dogs and badgers.
In cattle, it is mainly a respiratory disease.
What are the symptoms?
It is hard to spot bovine TB as the signs are similar to other diseases and normally only develop in the advanced stages.
It is normally picked up in cattle testing before clinical signs develop or during inspections of slaughtered cattle.
Animals can get thinner, have a light fever that keeps coming back, appear weak and have a reduced appetite.
Some will also have swollen lymph nodes, in the neck and a moist cough which is worse in the morning and during cold weather or exercise.
The government states it may cause chronic mastitis, an infection of the udder.
How is transferred between animals?
Evidence of bovine TB is most commonly found in the lymph glands of throat and lungs of affected animals.
They spread the disease mainly through coughing and sneezing.
Bacteria are released into the air and inhaled by other animals in close contact.
The disease can pass from badgers to cattle via close contact – and vice versa.
Contaminated equipment, animal waste, feed and pasture can also transfer the infection.
Can humans catch it from cattle?
Humans can catch bovine TB through:
- unpasteurised milk or dairy products from an infected cow, buffalo, goat or sheep
- inhaling bacteria breathed out by infected animals
- inhaling bacteria released from the carcasses of infected animals or from their excretions (such as faeces)
- Infection is more likely if an unprotected wound is exposed to bacteria from an infected animal.
But the government insists the risk of infection is very low for the vast majority of the population.
Symptoms are similar to human TB, including weight loss, fever, night sweats and a persistent cough.
Anyone who develops these symptoms should consult a doctor.
The disease can be treated by a complex combination of drugs over a long period.
