MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has made a last-ditch appeal to Defra to allow an Exmoor farmer to temporarily retain a cow diagnosed with TB on his farm.
Michael Reed, who farms near Wootton Courtenay, wants to keep the animal for a few more weeks so it can suckle a calf, born three days after it tested positive for the disease.
He says the calf will die if its mother is removed - as animal health officials have indicated - on Tuesday.
Now Mr Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, has written to Defra Secretary Steve Barclay asking for leniency to be shown in the case.
“Mr Reed has kept the cow isolated to minimise any risk of infection spreading and only wants to keep it for four months until the calf is fully weaned,” he said.
“I understand entirely that it has required a massive effort on behalf of the authorities and the Government to get on top of the TB epidemic and it is only by rigorous application of the rules and taking measures which at times have been pretty unpopular that we have been able to achieve the success we have.
“All I am asking is for the Animal and Plant Health Agency to weigh up the situation carefully before taking a final decision.”
