A prize fighter

The Government's policy is to destroy animals that test positive for the disease and they are strongly opposed to allowing re-tests for the obvious reason that this could open the flood gates for farmers to appeal every case, costing large amounts of public money and, potentially, putting even more animals at risk.

Yet the argument is a complicated one. Hallmark Boxster is one of the most valuable British Blonde bulls in the country. The champion animal is worth considerably more than his meat, and his loss will cost South Yorkshire farmer Ken Jackson thousands of pounds in stud values.

Mr Jackson also doubts Defra's findings and is adamant that Boxster was unfairly condemned.

Both arguments clearly have merit – no one would argue that animals carrying TB should be allowed to spread the disease and equally it would be hard to justify the destruction of a valuable bull without strong evidence that such a course action was absolutely necessary.

What is clear is that neither side want an expensive, drawn out legal battle, and the courts must resolve the situation as clearly and quickly as possible.