Jeremy Clarkson has placed his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire under lockdown following an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) among his cattle. The former Top Gear host announced on Thursday that a pregnant cow tested positive for the infectious disease, forcing the farm to halt all buying and selling of cattle.
Speaking to Times Radio on Friday, Clarkson described the situation as "awful" and "dreadful." He explained that routine testing every six months had made him complacent, but the positive result means the farm is now locked down for at least two months until further tests can confirm the herd is clear.
Clarkson also revealed personal tragedy, stating that one of his dog Arya's newborn puppies had died. His partner Lisa Hogan confirmed the loss on social media, saying, "Mr Grey has gone to fur and feather land." Additionally, Clarkson noted that a calf is very sickly, adding to the week's challenges.
Despite the farm's closure, Clarkson assured that his farm shop and pub, The Farmer's Dog in Burford, remain open and unaffected. He clarified that bovine TB does not affect humans, only cattle. The infected cow, pregnant with twins, will have to be culled, which Clarkson described as heartbreaking.
This is not the first TB scare at Diddly Squat Farm; in 2023, Clarkson discovered TB-infected badgers on his estate. Last month, he admitted that the farm is facing its "worst year ever" due to a poor harvest caused by heatwaves and drought.
