Always associate this with an episode from 'Heartbeat' when they were burning cattle after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Very poignant for the situation.
Yes I remember that episode I liked a bit of heartbeat. My dad used to keep a few pigs in the 70's when swine vesicular started. had to have them all culled I think that's how they say it. I was in my early teens then, men in white overalls, foot dips and hand made signs saying do not enter and stuff where all over our village.
Lonnie Donegan was a great fan of Leadbelly and his songs including Rock Island Line, Pick a Bale of Cotton and Midnight Special.