Badger culling unnecessary

[Hobjob]

Has anyone got an url for this report?

[zharca]

Hi, I think this is the Badgerwatch Ireland report (looks a little dramatic, but well referenced)
badgerwatch report

and here's the Royal Society's response to the Defra report, which I guess may be about as unbiased as you could get: DEFRA response

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by zharca

Hi, I think this is the Badgerwatch Ireland report (looks a little dramatic, but well referenced)
badgerwatch report

and here's the Royal Society's response to the Defra report, which I guess may be about as unbiased as you could get: DEFRA response

Many, many thanks.

[scholesy]

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Badger cull 'not cost effective'

Report form scientists advising Gov on the possile culling of badgers. Seems to go along with what's been said above.

I agree wth the earlier posters comment about "poor husbandry" being an issue here. After all, when TB was prevalent in humans, it was normally down to squalid, damp, overcrowded living conditions, and what do modern farmers do - bring grazing animals from a healthy outdoor environment indoors over the winter, crammed in damp, enclosed barns and often feed them inappropriate animal derived concentrate feed.

areas where culling has taken place, incidents of TB have increased, with badgers moving more freely & a wider range increasing contact with each other.

[Brains]

I've just read the Badger Trust report, and it's pretty damning on Ireland's bTb control systems and use of scientific 'evidence'. The links above didn't work for me, but it can be found at:
The Badger Trust

I normally take reports from organisations with a particular pont of view with a pinch of salt, but this one is well argued and well referenced with peer-reviewed work.

I've also read the final report of the ISG, which can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/i...nal_report.pdf

This states that a badger cull will have no impact bTb rates in the UK. Thus, it could only be a sop to those farmers who want a cull to get them to accept a much more stringent control regime for cattle. That would be a disgrace. The background chapter is also very interesting in that it blows the myth that culling during the 1970s brought down bTb rates in the South West, as this also coincided with a reduction in cattle imports from .... Ireland!

Hopefully, the Govt will see sense on this one - and refuse to cull.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Brains

This states that a badger cull will have no impact bTb rates in the UK. Thus, it could only be a sop to those farmers who want a cull to get them to accept a much more stringent control regime for cattle. That would be a disgrace. The background chapter is also very interesting in that it blows the myth that culling during the 1970s brought down bTb rates in the South West, as this also coincided with a reduction in cattle imports from .... Ireland!

Hopefully, the Govt will see sense on this one - and refuse to cull.

There was good discussion on this on Farming this week, Radio 4, on Saturday
23rd June

Liten again
BBC - Radio 4 - Farming Today

[Brains]

Unfortunately, that's dropped off the Listen again list now . Though looking at the list of comments on it, it followed the usual pattern - farmer's representatives for a cull, everyone else against. One comment even said that we should believe what vets say and not scientific evidence!!

However, if a cull IS introduced, it won't be done in isolation. Other measures will be introduced as well (as the introduction of pre-movement testing for ALL cattle movements, rather than just those a year or more old, in Spring this year). So, when TB rates fall, farmers will say that it's the cull that's achieved it .... when in actual fact, it will be everything else! It's very depressing

[StratManiac]

How can we stop them from doing this?

There seems little point if it has little or no effect on TB.
I have raised a poll on my own website & Forums.
Please feel free to join and register your vote as to wether Culling should continue.
Should someone petition the government to put a stop to the awfull method of killing
that has no purpose?

How can we stop it??

please visit MacroShot UK Gallery - Home to show your support.

Kind Regards

Strat