Jeremy Clarkson Devastated After TB Outbreak and Puppy Death at Diddly Squat Farm
Overview
Jeremy Clarkson has revealed a double heartbreak at his Diddly Squat Farm, with a bovine tuberculosis outbreak confirmed on Thursday followed by the death of one of his puppies just hours later.
The 65-year-old broadcaster and Clarkson’s Farm star shared the distressing news on Friday morning, saying:
“I got up this morning and found one of my puppies has died.”
The tragedy comes on the heels of the confirmation that bovine TB has struck the Chadlington-based farm, forcing an immediate lockdown for at least two months.
Veterinarians reportedly broke the news on Thursday afternoon, with Clarkson describing the moment:
“The vet looked up as he did yesterday lunchtime and said, ‘I’m really sorry, this one’s failed.’ It’s awful — it is awful.”
The infected cow, tragically, is pregnant with twins. Clarkson also raised concerns for his Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, whose test results are currently inconclusive.
The farm, which gained national fame through Clarkson’s hit Amazon Prime show, now faces stringent biosecurity measures, retesting, and financial loss.
“Honestly, farming? I’m not enjoying it this week,” Clarkson admitted.
He also mentioned the presence of a very sickly calf on the farm, further compounding his distress.
What is Bovine TB?
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a respiratory disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, capable of spreading via airborne transmission or contact with infected wildlife, especially badgers.
Though not harmful to humans through casual contact, the disease has significant consequences for the agricultural sector, including the mandatory culling of infected cattle.
According to government figures, over 22,000 cattle were culled in England between October 2021 and September 2022. Wildlife control efforts also saw 10,769 badgers culled last year alone.
Diddly Squat Farm on Lockdown
The TB diagnosis means Diddly Squat Farm is locked down for at least 60 days, during which no animals may be moved off the property and additional testing will be conducted.
Despite the blow to his farm and animals, Clarkson remains in communication with fans, writing on social media:
“I couldn’t bear it if we lost [Endgame].”
