26th July Colwyn Bay Welsh Badger Cull

[Deerhunter]

Originally Posted by stripee

I think it could be interesting to have a Food and Farming sub forum in the Environment forum to discuss farming/food supply and wildlife impacts.

The Welsh badger cull differs in some respects from the kind proposed by farmers in SW England, where approx 70% of farmers applied for licences, leaving approx 30% non consenting. In the Republic of Ireland, there are more farmers, more rural areas, with many more hard boundaries, but even there there are non consenting landowners who are allowed to refuse access. The cullers (tried) to leave 20% of badgers to comply with the Bern Convention.
The proposed cull of badgers in Wales is to totally eradicate the badger over a wide area, unspecified but more than 100 sq km bounded by the sea, motorway, major rivers. Totally eradicate, every single badger, well or sick, young or old. Every landowner, consenting or not. For several years, or many years even according to Christianne Glossop as long as 2018. Non consenting landowners (or even consenting ones) will have the Assembly backed cullers coming on their land for extended periods.
All methods (maybe you like snaring, but in Ireland other animals including pets have been snared, and badgers have been left for many hours in them because of shortages of staff). Gassing does not reach all parts of a sett, free running shooting requires considerable expertise.
This is different from English proposals because it will involve Government cullers not farmers. It will involve invasion of people's property against their will. Lawyers will be made happy. It will be a major slaughter of wildlife, and it may make very little difference in the end to the incidence of bTB. Although you disagree.

Much of what you say is accurate.

Although you fail to answer my badly spelt questions!

What is the answer?

A point that is pedantic but accurate, we already have invasion of our property against our will.

This has been happening for 60 years but accelerated since 1997.

By the way, I heard on the food programme today (Radio 4) that there were half the number of sheep farmers compared to 15 years ago!

can this be true?

if so, is it good or bad?

[stripee]

If you saw "Jimmy Doherty's Farming Heroes" last week on TV, Rachel's dairy was experimenting with different feed to reduce methane from cows. They still produce their own milk and also buy in organic milk from the local area. Here is a link to news about them and others.
Word of mouth - WalesOnline

I have the WWOOF (willing workers on organic farms)handbook for this year (my daughter spends time woofing from time to time). There are farms large and small up and running successfully doing interesting stuff.
It isn't all doom and gloom.
There are dairy farms that have had btb and are clear now. Some still have it. One has built a massive badger proof shed. At least you get some compensation. Unlike other businesses.
If you take out the badgers on your land it will not help bTB in cattle it will make it worse. Perturbation effect. Doing it to show how "desperate" farmers are in Devon simply is making them look nasty.
Looking for "sick" badgers to take photos of, is going to be problematic as well, as most animals die underground, and few get to the final stages of tb anyway.
The badgers on our land are very fit and healthy, they have glossy coats and shining eyes. If they get bovine tb it will be from the cattle.
As for why people are not becoming sheep farmers or leaving(are badgers to blame for this as well?) start a new thread.

[Deerhunter]

Originally Posted by stripee

If you saw "Jimmy Doherty's Farming Heroes" last week on TV, Rachel's dairy was experimenting with different feed to reduce methane from cows. They still produce their own milk and also buy in organic milk from the local area. Here is a link to news about them and others.
Word of mouth - WalesOnline

I have the WWOOF (willing workers on organic farms)handbook for this year (my daughter spends time woofing from time to time). There are farms large and small up and running successfully doing interesting stuff.
It isn't all doom and gloom.
There are dairy farms that have had btb and are clear now. Some still have it. One has built a massive badger proof shed. At least you get some compensation. Unlike other businesses.
If you take out the badgers on your land it will not help bTB in cattle it will make it worse. Perturbation effect. Doing it to show how "desperate" farmers are in Devon simply is making them look nasty.
Looking for "sick" badgers to take photos of, is going to be problematic as well, as most animals die underground, and few get to the final stages of tb anyway.
The badgers on our land are very fit and healthy, they have glossy coats and shining eyes. If they get bovine tb it will be from the cattle.
As for why people are not becoming sheep farmers or leaving(are badgers to blame for this as well?) start a new thread.

Stripee

I am sure Rachels dairy is an admirable outfit.

But it is nothing to do with the subject.

Can you explain to me how taking out all the Badgers on my land (not that I have suggested it) will make things worse for me? And exactly how much worse?

I don't live in Devon.


Are you categorically saying that Badgers only get Btb from Cattle ?

Otherwise what do you mean by "The badgers on our land are very fit and healthy, they have glossy coats and shining eyes. If they get bovine tb it will be from the cattle." ?

[stripee]

Your subject was the sad demise of dairy farming, so this was an example of a farm still running successfully along with others.

It is illegal. Anyone found disturbing a badger sett gets a hefty fine if prosecuted. Badgers are a protected species. That could make it worse for you.

No, I know, Cutcombe,Somerset
Last answer:
This is what I tend to think.