Rob Darvill, a vet at Benson and Babb Vets in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, opened his heart to his peers when he penned a letter to the Veterinary Times on July 29.
He explained his pride in making sure that animals lived long, healthy and productive lives.
But the spread of bovine TB in the county has seen him delivering the devastating news to farmers that their animals will have to be sent to slaughter.
Mr Darvill wrote: “It’s a disease you always hope you’re never going to find in a herd.
“You’re watching a disaster unfold in front of you and you are powerless to stop it or provide any hope or comfort. You’re essentially watching yourself destroy the business of someone who, until that point, you’ve been helping by treating and curing their animals so they can thrive.
“Nothing can prepare you for that.”
Thousands of people read the story on the NFU’s Facebook page and dozens shared his letter via Twitter and read the full story on www.TBFreeEngland.co.uk.
He continued: “These aren’t just random cows that you’re condemning to death.
“They’re cows that you recognise, cows that you’ve been out to calf or to treat. I can’t put into words how difficult it is to be the bearer of that kind of news.”
Mr Darvill’s sentiments have been repeated by farmers who have had to live with bovine TB.
Dave Goddard wrote on the Badger Cull 2013 - Support our Farmers Facebook page (no longer online): “If the farm vet feels bad because he has attended and treated some of the cows, think how the farmer feels who has delivered them as calves, registered them with BCMS and probably the breed society, reared and nurtured them, got them in calf, calved them down with their first calf, trained them to be milked, recorded their milk yields, worked out their rations, petted them, clipped/trimmed tails, shown them to visitors and entered them into herd competitions.
“Isn't it interesting how every vet/professional I have spoken to says bTB will not be controlled until the reservoir of infection in the wildlife has been dealt with.”
Another fan of the page, who wanted to remain anonymous, added: “We have been hit massively by TB this year.
“We lost our complete herd of cows in February and March and are still caught up in it.
“Another six cattle leave here tomorrow as reactors in our last test.
“I feel so helpless to this situation, it takes over your life and we live in dread of each test.
“The anti-badger cull protesters have no comprehension of how it feels to see beautiful home-bred dairy cows loaded up for slaughter in the prime of their lives.
“The emotional impact is incredible I just can't put it into words.”