Shropshire farmer shares emotional update on 'devastating' impact of TB outbreak
A Shropshire farmer has spoken of the huge emotional upset of dealing with an outbreak of TB, which will lead to some of her herd being slaughtered.
Fifth generation farmer Melissa Roberts and the Timmis family at Moor Farm, Baschurch, suffered a devastating blow this week as a number of their herd of 170 Shraden Herefords, established in 1919, tested positive for the disease.
"It's the first time in more than 100 years of the herd's history we have been faced with this," said an emotional Melissa. "We are not quite sure how to feel at the moment. It's very emotional and everyone is crying a lot. It's tough.
"You think you are doing everything you can to keep them safe. We have taken all of the precautions and we have followed all the rules.
"We have the highest health status we can have and have kept them topped up with minerals but you can't do anything about TB.
"It's such a shock. As a family, we have never had his before and test every year.
"We are not just farmers, we are people and emotionally, it's devastating."
"The herd has been in our family for over 100 years and to lose the cattle, it's not just losing an animal, but 100 years of breeding.
"I am a fifth-generation farmer so it's heartbreaking to see all the history that goes with it destroyed. It's hard to know what to do.
