Fern, the Dexter calf whose second TB test last week showed to be a reactor, has not yet been slaughtered.
He could be forced to linger for a further two weeks awaiting death, while Defra argues about his value. 'Defra won't accept the birth notification,' said owner Sheilagh Kremers.
'I have to prove his pedigree. I've told them that I only keep pedigree Dexter cows, and his mother and father both have pedigrees, but that's not good enough.
'They say the law came into effect on February 20 that pedigree TB reactors must have a pedigree certificate to present to the valuer. Normally you have up to 18 months to get a pedigree – and Fern's nowhere near that age.
'Now I have to get Fern, his mother and his father all blood tested for DNA and it has to be sent to Holland – it will take about two weeks and cost more money – just so that Fern can be slaughtered the day after his pedigree arrives.'
She is concerned about Fern. 'It's no life for him. 'He's lost weight – he eats hay and feed, but it's not like his mother's milk and grass. Knowing he's got to die I wish they'd take him now.'
When Fern is eventually slaughtered Ms Kremers will still not be left in peace by Defra. 'They will move in to retest all my cows,' said Ms Kremers.
'It seems eternal. Who will they condemn next – Daisy, or Buttercup or Marigold? I started the herd with Marigold – she's 15 years old now and I adore her. I just can't replace them. I don't know how farmers go on for up to seven years under the threat of TB as so many of them have to.'
Mr Kremers has recently heard from Defra that she has been refused her Small Farm grant. 'If they can't get you one way they'll get you another,' she said with sad resignation. 'There's never been any trouble with the grant before.'
The promised apology from Ben Bradshaw, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will never arrive at New Park Farm.
'Mr Bradshaw apologised to parliament,' said a Defra spokesman. 'As it was an operational matter it was considered more appropriate for the State Veterinary Service to write to Ms Kremers.'
However there has been some good news for the Kremers this week. A letter from the Royal Veterinary College announced it will investigate Mous'l Fern's first TB test, which was finally agreed by Defra to be faulty, but only for a technical reason.
No one has looked into the changing of the test results or the lack of hygiene precautions by the vet. Now, it seems, it may hold a full inquiry.
'I'm trying to get on with my life,' said Ms Kremers.