Andrea Meanwell, a farmer in Tebay, Cumbria, has had a stroke of luck with government funding, but a TB scare continues to overshadow her farm. Last week, the government's sustainable farming incentive opened for the year, and she successfully submitted an application to become an organic farm. Others were not so fortunate – the funding ran out after a few hours, and WhatsApp became a catalogue of despair among farmers who missed out and now don't know how their farm businesses will survive. It's clear that the government needs to provide more money to support sustainable farming.
A Difficult Period Since June
Meanwhile, it's been a difficult period since June as the farm has been “shut down” with TB. The family has been waiting to test again so they can hopefully sell their bullocks, bull and breeding heifers. The wait has been extended because of a son's wedding, and they had to find a new vet after their previous vet stopped taking farm animals as it was uneconomical for them. Meanwell has been unable to sleep, as another shutdown would again impact them financially.
Bringing the Cows Home
Before the new test, it took a day to get the 67 cows home from the fells, and they were heavily in calf. One decided to calve en route, on the side of a fell at about 1,200ft. The new vet said they all had to come in, so the other cows were walked home and they went back for the cow and calf. It was a job getting the quad and trailer close, but they managed to get the calf in the trailer. The cow then set off for home at top speed; Meanwell followed, and her son took the calf home. Thankfully, they were reunited happily and spent the night in the farm garden.
An Inconclusive Reactor
The cows receive two injections on day one, and if any lumps develop by day four, they have to be assessed. By day four it was going well, but then one cow developed a 3mm lump – an “inconclusive reactor”. She had to be isolated and will be tested again in 60 days.
In the meantime, the farm is shut down again and cannot sell any breeding cows, only direct to slaughter. The family needs to think carefully about what to do next, for the sake of the cows, and themselves.
