02/08/2026
It's been a busy week here on the farm!
Before our cattle can travel to market, they must undergo routine Bovine TB (bTB) testing. Bovine TB is a serious infectious disease that affects cattle and other mammals, and regular testing is a legal requirement in the UK to help monitor and control its spread. As cattle can carry the disease without showing any obvious signs, testing is an important part of protecting the wider farming community.
The test itself is carried out by our vet, who injects a tiny amount of tuberculin just under the skin in the middle of the cow's neck. Before the injection, the skin is measured using callipers to record its thickness. If you're of a certain age, it's very similar to the BCG test many of us had at school! (The photos below show where the procedure is carried out.) The cattle are then returned to the field for 72 hours before being gathered again so the vet can remeasure the skin and check for any reaction.
The testing programme isn't without controversy. Many farmers believe the current skin test has limitations because it isn't a definitive test for active disease and can sometimes result in healthy-looking animals being removed as part of the disease control programme. Despite this, it remains the principal tool used to monitor and control bovine TB, and the subject continues to generate much debate across the farming industry.
Testing means gathering and handling every eligible animal twice over three days, so it's a stressful and busy time for both the cattle and us. The consequences of a negative result can be catastrophic and devastating, hence it being such a stressful time for farmers. Thankfully, we had the all-clear this week, although we know many fellow farmers aren't so fortunate.
With the TB test behind us, it was straight on to artificial insemination (AI). Fortunately, Lewis is qualified to carry out AI himself, saving us the cost of bringing in an outside technician.
Although we keep a stock bull, AI allows us to access carefully selected genetics from proven bulls across the UK and beyond. This is particularly important with our pedigree Hereford herd, and helps us breed calves with desirable traits such as easy calving, strong growth rates, excellent temperament and healthy bloodlines. Timing is everything, so cows are closely monitored to identify when they're in season before the insemination is carried out.
Modern farming is a combination of traditional stockmanship, science and a huge amount of care for our animals. Every decision we make is about producing healthy, high-quality cattle while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare.
Every week is different on the farm, and this one has certainly kept us busy!
