A DEADLINE has passed for Exmoor farmer Michael Reed to hand over a cow with TB to be slaughtered by officials acting for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Now, Mr Reed faces court action by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive arm of Defra, after refusing to give up the animal, which calved just three days after the diagnosis.

Mr Reed fears the calf could die if its mother was taken away and wants to keep the cow to allow it to suckle for at least four months.

He threatened to blockade his Higher Ranscombe farm, near Wootton Courtenay, to keep out Defra officials.

APHA veterinary advisor Juan Velarde said the agency would have to seek a court order ‘to enforce compliance’ to allow police and animal handlers to enter the farm and take away the Hereford Cross cow for slaughter.

Mr Reed said he was aware there was currently a large backlog of cases which were being handled by magistrates courts.

He said it was quite possible the legal case could take several weeks or even months to be processed.

Mr Reed told the Free Press: “I would like to think that was the case.

“If I can get it to two months I would be pleased, because that might give the calf a chance to survive.”

He said although veterinary tests confirmed the animal had TB, there were none of the usual symptoms such as becoming thin, coughing, or drooling at the mouth.