Jess, the girlfriend of Reuben Owen, has opened up about her heartbreaking fears of losing her family's cows to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) on the latest episode of Life in the Dales. The couple, who star alongside friends Sonny and Capper on the Channel 5 show, faced tense moments as they awaited test results for the herd on Brough Castle farm.
Worries Over Devastating Disease
During Tuesday's episode, Jess and her father, David, expressed their anxiety about bTB, a respiratory disease that can be fatal to cattle. The narrator warned that “tensions were running high” on the farm. Reuben asked David if he was nervous, to which David replied, “Ah, very,” explaining that the infection can 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. After the vet arrived, David admitted he was “dreading” the wait for results, while Jess shared her devastation at the thought of potential slaughters.
Heartbreak at the Thought of Losing Her Cows
Petting her favorite cow, Jess 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 discussed the stress with his father, Clive, who commented, “It’s a big worry for folk, it is. A lot of stress.” As they awaited the test results, Jess reflected on her lifelong passion: “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 Tests Come Back Negative
Fortunately, the family received the news they had hoped for: their cows tested negative for TB. Jess exclaimed, “Amazing, brilliant,” while David added, “All our worries are over and the stresses.” Reuben celebrated, saying, “That is brilliant news, we’re all alright, fighting fit.”
Jess has previously spoken about her deep connection to farming. In a 2023 article for Farmers Guardian, then-18-year-old Jessica wrote: “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.
