In a recent episode of Life in the Dales, Reuben Owen's girlfriend Jess opened up about her deep-seated fears regarding bovine tuberculosis (TB) on her family farm, Brough Castle Farm. The couple, who have been together since October 2024, appear alongside friends Sonny and Capper, as well as Reuben's brothers Myles and Sid and his father Clive.
Heartbreaking Confessions About TB Fears
During Tuesday's episode, Jess and her father David candidly discussed their anxieties about bovine tuberculosis, a serious respiratory illness that can devastate livestock. Jeremy Clarkson previously spoke about the heartbreak he endured at his Diddly Squat farm after his livestock were affected. The narrator warned that "tensions were running high" at Brough Castle farm as they awaited test results.
"Are you nervous?" Reuben asked David. He replied, "Ah, very," explaining how the lung infection could spread from one cow to "quite a few." He added, "There's no cure for TB, so that's why the cows have to be slaughtered until you've eradicated it." Reuben noted that Jess was particularly worried due to her close bond with the cows.
Emotional Toll on Jess and Her Family
After the vet arrived, David said he was "dreading" waiting to hear if his cows had TB. Jess shared her devastation at the thought of potential slaughters. Petting her favourite cow, she said: "If we had TB, it would be awful, not just for the business side, but these are like family members to me, these cows. I know them inside and out." She added, "It's a horrible gut feeling, the constant worry."
Reuben later explained the stress Jess's family was feeling to his dad Clive, who replied: "It's a big worry for folk, it is. A lot of stress." Jess expressed her love for farming: "I love what I do, I've done it since I was tiny, it's my dream job. I just love every part of it. I love getting up in the morning and seeing all the cows. These cows, we've bred them over the years, grandad's bred them, and we've still got the same bloodline coming through. If we lost all these cows in one day, it would be devastating. Words can't really describe, it would be heartbreaking."
Relief as Test Results Come Back Negative
Thankfully, Jess and her family were relieved to hear their cows did not test positive for TB and were safe from slaughter. "Amazing, brilliant," Jess said, while David added, "All our worries are over and the stresses." Jess concluded, "Thank goodness for that," and Reuben said, "That is brilliant news, we're all alright, fighting fit."
Jess has previously spoken about her love for her family farm. In a 2023 article for Farmers Guardian, then-18-year-old Jess said: "Farming is in my blood: I grew up on Brough Castle Farm and remember helping my mum and dad in the fields from a young age. Since then, it is all I have ever wanted to do. I am now working full-time alongside my dad and taking on more responsibilities for different parts of the farm, which is really exciting. I have always loved working with animals too, particularly cows and sheep; they have their own personalities, and I feel like I know them all. Because I have grown up with them since I was very little, I see all the animals as part of our family."
Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 5.
