VIDEO: British farmer could lose his home and livelihood following bTB outbreak

“Imagine if the British automotive industry sent out 49 per cent of their cars with serious safety issues,” he added.

“It would not happen and the fallout if it did happen would be off the scale, so why is it acceptable in the UK cattle industry?”

He also lashed out at Defra’s ‘draconian’ compensation regime, which he said did not take into account the true value of his animals and their unborn calves.

“I have built up the herd by researching estimated breeding values and what breeds complement each other to form a hybrid,” added Mr Andrews.

“I have six different types of cow which I am in the process of cross-breeding and to me a non-pedigree is of far more importance and value compared to a pedigree and consequently is not justifiable to reduce the compensation in such a marked way.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “Bovine TB remains one of the greatest animal health threats to the UK, causing devastation for hard-working farmers and rural communities.

“Our strategy to tackle bTB includes one of the most rigorous testing and surveillance programmes for the disease in cattle in the world, using the best available tests.”

Harrowing video footage shows the moments before five of Henry Andrews’ heavily in-calf cows were shot on his farm in Devon.

The cows, which had tested positive for bTB just hours earlier, were filmed by Mr Andrews.

“These are five of my cows, which are unfortunately going to have to be shot today in half an hour’s time,” Mr Andrews told the camera, before pointing out the cows which were in different stages of pregnancy. They ranged from four- to six-months in-calf.

“It is an absolute travesty,” said Mr Andrews, who is calling for a cattle vaccine and Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals test to be brought to market.

“It is just unbelievable this is happening to more than 30,000 cattle each year.”