One of the main talking points among rural communities in recent weeks has been the case of Geronimo the alpaca, who was put down in August after twice testing positive for Bovine Tuberculosis (BTb).

Among those expressing their objections to what is otherwise routine practice for thousands of cattle every year was the ardent campaigner, Chris Packham. I feel his campaign would carry more weight if, in fact, his group had not spent so much time trying to stop efforts to control the disease previously through reducing the numbers of species known to spread the disease such as badgers.

I understand many country folk will be saddened at Geronimo’s fate and no doubt have empathy with his owner. However, many will also be somewhat repulsed at the outpouring of indignation towards him by people otherwise silent about the far wider crisis of BTb amongst our cattle population.

In the 12 months to March 2021, over 28,000 cows were killed because of BTb. Each and every one of those animals will have been reared and looked after by a farming family for whom every loss is a deep personal bereavement. Ironically, many farmers have been watching this case with interest because of the challenge to the BTb testing regime that many have felt for some time has been oversensitive and has caused the more cows to be slaughtered that was necessary.

We shall see how this evolves. Agriculture as an industry and as a way of life is under a two-pronged assault by both the cruel and tragic effects of diseases such as BTb and the continual undermining of every farmer’s good intention by both the media and fringe campaign groups. Devoting entire lives to looking after naactture is labelled ‘unsustainable’. Putting their life and soul into looking after animals, often at great personal cost, is labelled ‘cruel’ Even the RSPB is now advocating a meat-free diet. I’m sorry to hear about Geronimo, but for me, 28,000 cows lost to BTb is the real tragedy.

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