Cow poisoning threat to Shropshire farmer's business
A cattle farmer has been left "absolutely devastated" after losing about half of his pedigree herd to lead poisoning.
Bob Lane admits that he does not know if he will be able to continue after 16 of his Aberdeen Angus cows died after eating feed containing fatal traces of lead.
Small bits of a battery had found their way into the animal feed, which Mr Lane buys in for his farm, Windy Meadows, in Edgmond, near Newport.
The lead inside batteries can be fatal to cows and other livestock.
Mr Lane's award-winning cows first went blind before dying.
The first cow died on April 18, with more following during last week and over the last weekend.
Mr Lane said: "I have been farming since 1977 and I've never heard of this before.
"We buy our feed from outside. A battery had been chopped into bits and the lead had got into the feed.
"There were 19 animals in the shed and 16 are dead.
"They have been dying every day. It's quite horrific to see. Just a small amount of lead can attack the nervous system.
"They lose all awareness of what they are doing and smash into the fences and things.
"Some of them weigh a tonne in weight.
"It's just horrific. I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
Footpaths through Mr Lane's farm have been closed over fears that any more infected animals could injure people passing by.
The paths are expected to be closed for two weeks.
Mr Lane said his cows are "some of the best in the country", with some exported to France, Germany, Holland and Italy this year.
Some of the cows can sell for thousands of pounds – and some of the animals that died were carrying calves.
The deaths also mean that Mr Lane's gene pool has been decimated.
Cows cannot be bred with members of their direct family.
Mr Lane has about 20 cows left.
Mr Lane, 66, said: "I don't know whether I'll be able to continue to be honest.
"It's a lifetime's work just gone. It would take 20 years to pull it back.
"I've watched them being born and grow up. They all had names.
"Farming is such a cruel business. I don't know why I do it sometimes.
"At the moment I'm am worried about going out there in case there is another one dead."
Mr Lane said farmers in the area had tried to help in any way that they can.
He urged walkers not to ignore the police tape which currently prevents people from using the footpaths over his land.
Police are investigating to make sure there was no foul play connected to the poisoning incident.
