Badger cull - here we go again

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Badger cull - here we go again
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Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 6:30 am Post subject: Badger cull - here we go again
Another of the periodic announcements of a forthcoming badger cull has just occurred, I recall we've been here before with Labour. They changed their minds in the end, given their unpopularity they didn't want to upset the Wind in the Willows brigade. Funny how the public are more forgiving of bombing Arabs and Afghans than they are of shooting badgers.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Badger cull - here we go again

Brownbear wrote:

Funny how the public are more forgiving of bombing Arabs and Afghans than they are of shooting badgers.

Very much so

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 7:35 am Post subject:
It's quite breathtaking. Although I gather farmers are now going to have to pay for the badger cull. Great. I may aswell just give DEFRA my bank details at this rate.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 8:09 am Post subject:

FireNeedles wrote:

Although I gather farmers are now going to have to pay for the badger cull.

I think it's going to be done through licence, which means you can hire contractors or do it yourself if you want. Personally, I'd be willing to trade badger control for stalking rights.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 8:14 am Post subject:

FireNeedles wrote:

II may aswell just give DEFRA my bank details at this rate.

They have them already lol.

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 9:08 am Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

FireNeedles wrote:

Although I gather farmers are now going to have to pay for the badger cull.

I think it's going to be done through licence, which means you can hire contractors or do it yourself if you want. Personally, I'd be willing to trade badger control for stalking rights.

Yeah that seems to be a different story to a few days ago - you'll probably find plenty of badger control work down that way soon!

Marts

Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 352
Location: London

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 1:29 pm Post subject:
Here's the Beeb's bit on it

boisdevie1

Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3897
Location: Lancaster

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 1:50 pm Post subject:
Does that mean badger hair shaving brushes will be cheaper soon?

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 1:53 pm Post subject:

boisdevie1 wrote:

Does that mean badger hair shaving brushes will be cheaper soon?

No need. You can just use a badger's head on a stick.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15464
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 2:15 pm Post subject:

I'll admit to ignorance on this one.
Obviously I know TB is a bad thing, but is the alleged link between cows and badgers convincing?

And have I got this right? The test for TB in cows tests for the presence of a TB antibody, and if anything has got it, then the whole herd is culled.
Thereby ensuring there is never any possibility of cattle developing any natural immunity.

I'm hoping I have been misinformed, because that is simply madness.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 2:24 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

And have I got this right? The test for TB in cows tests for the presence of a TB antibody, and if anything has got it, then the whole herd is culled.
Thereby ensuring there is never any possibility of cattle developing any natural immunity.

Not the whole herd, just 'reactors', so there is no possibility of natural immunity.

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 2:30 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Not the whole herd, just 'reactors', so there is no possibility of natural immunity.

oh what wisdom

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 3:10 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Not the whole herd, just 'reactors', so there is no possibility of natural immunity.

I understand that sometimes the reactors show no signs of TB once culled, which also could mean that some cows that are not reactors could have TB!

darkbrowneggs

Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 663
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 6:12 pm Post subject:

The testing is very painful and distressing to the cattle, and they have to be repeatedly caught and handled and re-tested for months, even years before a farm is declared free.

Then there is the time, effort and energy for the farmer, plus the endless worrying about test results. Its one of the reasons I don't keep cattle at present.

I live in an area where many farms have had TB problems and at one time badgers ransacked the garden nightly, and completely undermined one of the local lanes, yet when I was a child (pre-protection laws)I never saw a badger in the area.

Having said that as I understand it TB in humans was rife when they were not fed nutritious food, and were kept in crowded unhygienic conditions. I am sure the overpopulation of badgers would result in crowded conditions, but also when I look at some of the modern intensive dairy and beef farms..........

Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15464
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 10 7:12 pm Post subject:

darkbrowneggs wrote:

but also when I look at some of the modern intensive dairy and beef farms..........

You don't think there could be a connection?

That's heresy, they'll burn you at the steak for such a suggestion.

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