BARNEY the calf is set for a grim start in life after being separated from his mother, who is due to be slaughtered in a row over tuberculosis.

He was born in the early hours of Monday, but because his mother is one of eight cows tested positive for bovine tuberculosis in November, they have had to be parted.

The plight of farmer Margaret Booton, as she struggled to try to persuade agriculture ministry Defra to allow the eight animals to be re-tested, has captured the hearts of Worcester News readers.

She does not believe they are infected and doubts the accuracy of the skin test used by vets, after four pregnant cattle which tested positive in 2003 showed no signs of infection after they were slaughtered.

Last week, Mrs Booton, of Lower Snead Farm in Pensax, Worcestershire, lost a court case to save the cattle from slaughter.

Now she has to wait for the animals, three of which are still pregnant, to be taken. If the calves are not born before the animals are slaughtered, they too will die.

Mrs Booton said: "They shouldn't have to be separated at this early stage. It's devastating to have to let the mother go."

Neighbour Samantha Qureshi, who owns some of the cattle as pets, said it was going to be a distressing time for Barney and his mother.

"He will be absolutely beside himself," she said.

Under EU legislation, Defra has to order the slaughter of the animals.

Adrian Rogers, of the State Veterinary Service, which carries out Defra's orders, said: "We are hoping to make arrangements for the animals to be taken before the end of the week.

"They will go to an abattoir and then a vet will conduct a post-mortem examination. If they show lesions, this will confirm with 100 per cent certainty if the animals have TB."

As for Barney, Mrs Booton will hand-rear him and pray that when Defra come to test him in the next few weeks, he will be declared TB-free.