Jess, the girlfriend of Reuben Owen, has opened up about her fears of losing her family's cattle to bovine tuberculosis during an episode of the Channel 5 series 'Life in the Dales'. The show, which follows the couple and their families through the challenges of farm life, highlighted the emotional toll of the disease as Jess and her father David awaited test results.
Fear of Devastating Losses
In the episode, tensions ran high at Brough Castle farm as the narrator noted that worries were mounting. David admitted to Reuben that he was "very" nervous about the possibility of TB infecting their herd. He explained that the respiratory disease can spread from one cow to many, with no cure available, forcing the slaughter of affected animals to eradicate the infection. Reuben noted that Jess was particularly anxious due to her close bond with the cows.
Jess expressed her dread, saying, "If we had TB, it would be awful, not just for the business side, but these are like family members to me, these cows. I know them inside and out." She described the constant worry as a "horrible gut feeling."
Emotional Impact on the Family
Reuben later discussed the stress with his father Clive, who acknowledged that TB is a major worry for farmers, causing significant stress. As the family waited for test results, Jess reflected on her deep connection to the animals, stating, "I love what I do, I've done it since I was tiny, it's my dream job. I just love every part of it. I love getting up in the morning and seeing all the cows. These cows, we've bred them over the years, grandad's bred them, and we've still got the same bloodline coming through. If we lost all these cows in one day, it would be devastating. Words can't really describe, it would be heartbreaking."
Relief as Tests Come Back Clear
Fortunately, the test results brought relief: none of the cows tested positive for TB. Jess exclaimed, "Amazing, brilliant," while David added, "All our worries are over and the stresses." Reuben called it "brilliant news." Jess had previously written about her upbringing on the farm in a 2023 article for Farmers Guardian, stating, "Farming is in my blood: I grew up on Brough Castle Farm and remember helping my mum and dad in the fields from a young age. Since then, it is all I have ever wanted to do."
'Life in the Dales' airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 5.
