SHEILAGH Kremers, the defiant farmer who refuses to give up her TB reactor calf for slaughter, is facing court action after a tense stand-off with Defra officials at the gates to her farm. She barred the Defra vet, valuer and trading standards officials from her farm last Thursday, claiming that the skin test was flawed. Mous'l Fern, the five-month-old Dexter calf at the centre of the row, tested positive to a TB skin test before Christmas. It has been denied a re-test which would cost £9. The three officials arrived at New Park Farm, Ogwell, at 3pm. As media jostled to record the confrontation, Defra vet Linda Farrant told Ms Kremers that they had come to carry out the valuation and removal of the calf. 'We have the right under the Animal Health Act to come onto the premises,' said Mrs Farrant. 'I don't think so,' responded Ms Kremers. Ms Kremers was warned that by refusing entry she was committing an offence. Asked to state her reasons, she said that the test was not carried out according to the manual of requirements and that one of the numbers on the form had been altered. Mrs Farrant denied this had happened and said: 'Obviously we are quite confident that this animal is a reactor. It is a very genuine reactor.' Trading standards officer Caroline Fisher read out an official caution and informed Ms Kremers that they would be applying for a warrant to seize the animal. Reading from a prepared statement, Ms Kremers said: 'I do not consent to his slaughter. I am complying with movement restrictions. He is in isolation. Animal health can monitor his health if they wish. I am still asking for the calf to be re-tested on the grounds of the complaints I am lodging with the government.' Mrs Farrant claimed she had been denied access to monitor the calf's health by Ms Kremer's husband, Mark Isted. Events took an surprising turn when she was allowed on to the farm after all. Her bucket with disinfectant bottle and sponge was searched and the lethal injection equipment removed before she and several photographers disappeared down the field to where the calf is being kept in isolation. Twenty minutes later they reappeared and took it in turns to dunk their boots into the backet of powerful disinfectant. Mrs Farrant confirmed that in its current condition, the calf did not pose a threat to other animals. After the officials had left, Ms Kremers said: 'I was shocked to be almost arrested, but I thought I was within my rights. It is hard really. It is always hard to stand up to anyone like that.' She has lodged a complaint to the parliamentary ombudsman, citing flaws she believed existed in the original test. She expressed disappointment that a similar challenge in Worcester failed. 'I want my day in court,' she said. p LAST week we published details of the Halifax Fern Fund, where readers can contribute to the costs Sheilagh Kremers is incurring trying to save her Dexter calf Mous'l Fern. Unfortunately some people have had difficulty making payments. There should be no problems using account number 00096871, sort code 11 15 18, for the S Kremer Halifax Fern Account. Ms Kremers would like to thank those who contributed £310 this week.