Badger cull in Wales

[danthekeeper]

How could people boycott welsh dairy products with any real effect I have looked at the bottles of milk in my fridge and they don't say if it is welsh milk or not?

Presumably if badgers are removed the only thing to happen would be an explosion in the earth worm population since there is a train of thought that this benign creature only preys on worm

[Ukwildlifeo]

I can't help but think some of these farmers are calling for a cull because they have nothing to loose: if the culling badgers works (which it won't) they will be free of bTB (except all the bTB that are in their herds, the origin of it in the first place...) and if it doesn't and the amount of bTB increases (most likely scenario) they will get compensation anyway. Plus whatever happens they will have less badgers digging up their fields and breaking their fences for a while until the badger populations recover.
From a purely economic point of view, the country is paying out compensation for cattle that are culled because of bTB infections but the NFU are demanding we spend millions on a cull that will make things worse and result in the tx payers spending even more money on compensation when the rate of infection increases - doesn't sound logical to me but im just an ignorant townie so I guess I just don't understand

Originally Posted by Eryri

The majority of all AMs of ALL political parties voted in favour of the cull in full plenary of the Senedd.

Whatever Parties voted for or against, the factis the decision is political not scientific.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by danthekeeper

How could people boycott welsh dairy products with any real effect I have looked at the bottles of milk in my fridge and they don't say if it is welsh milk or not?

Presumably if badgers are removed the only thing to happen would be an explosion in the earth worm population since there is a train of thought that this benign creature only preys on worm

Well they are predators of rabbits so could lead to an increase in the population and then possibly lead to an increase in foxes.

[darrenm]

If the cull is not to be a failiure are not all the species that can carry Bovine TB (other than the Badger) also to be culled in the same area?

If cattle are innoculated against it does that affect the future sales of Dairy and Meat products from a herd that have been innoculated, either here or abroad?

People who farm TB free cattle herds close to but not in the area of the cull should they be worried about infected displaced Badgers turning up on their land away from the cull area and bring Bovine TB to them?

[Eryri]

In response to Stripee...

Party Politics.
Again, you specifically target Plaid Cymru in your comments. May I remind you that your in Preseli MP is a Conservative, and the neighbouring MP in Ceredigion is a LibDem. Both are very much in favour of the cull, indeed, it appears they are trying to out-compete Plaid in their support of the cull, as the Westminster election approaches. Why do you specifically target Plaid in your reference to party politics ?

Holiday Lets.
I fear your argument about holiday lets explains allot. As you know, the farming community in the areas have suffered considerably, especially those who have had herd eradication in this bTB hotspot. The number of 'second home' and 'holiday let' properties have increased considerably in the last few years, partly as a result of farms going out of business and properties being snapped up by commercial holiday lets. I'm sure there is anecdotal evidence for come existing letting agencies having difficulty this year, but that has to be measured against the increase in properties for letting or second home ownership. Obviously, the national park planning restrictions precludes new-build.

Judicial Review/Legal Moratorium.
This is a natural and important stage in the process. As you know, the control order and the legal arrangements are complex, relates to existing UK law, EU law, and the 'correctness' and 'robustness' of the legal framework in which the cull be take place. The BadgerTrust approach is to be commended and have engaged in the process very positively, unlike some other bodies.

Hilary Benn.
This man has no say over the environment, wildlife, or agriculture in Wales. These are matters that are devolved to the democratic political decisions in Wales. There were many representations of consideration originating from the departments in England (both for and against the cull), these were considered along with evidence from as far away as NewZealand. I'm afraid that using quotes from English ministers in your campaign in Pembrokeshire may alienate your cause, for reasons other than cattle welfare or badger protection.

Vetinary staff.
Most 'forced entry' events are in fact against rouge farmers or hobby herdsmen who have refused to comply, or lapsed in their requirements under bTB testing, monitoring and control, with cattle. These are often covered in the press. As far as access to badger sets, a badger a wild species and these landowners do not own or control them. Under the control order, veterinary staff have access to the setts. A disturbing feature of the recent campaign against the cull in Pembrokeshire are attempts to gain the names and addresses of Welsh Government employees by some more extreme activists, and it is unknown why this is necessary other than to conduct illegal acts against individuals. The Badger Trust and other mainstream interest groups have condemned this type of activity.

Wildlife Trust.
It is not true that all those who have attended presentations and discussions through events organised by the Wildlife Trust are 'incandecasent with rage'. There vast majority of those with an interested in wildlife and more particularly badgers take a more pragmatic approach to the cull. There are some which argue a correctly organised cull under vetinary supervision, would actually enhance the health of the local badger population and assist in preventing the suffering in badgers as a result of cross-contamination of bTB. To get a clearer measure of the 'outrage' in Wales, it may be wise to observe the turnouts at campaign meetings of those wholly opposed to the cull. These, I understand tend to be extremely small, and not representative of the communities of Penfro/Ceredigion as a whole.

[Eryri]

Originally Posted by danthekeeper

Presumably if badgers are removed the only thing to happen would be an explosion in the earth worm population since there is a train of thought that this benign creature only preys on worm

One of the most bizarre proposals (that the Welsh Government were legally obliged to consider) was the 'cow nappy'. This is to prevent the accumulation of cow pats in the fields, which provide habitat for beetle type organisms which tempt badgers into the pasture. If I manage to find the consultations link on the Welsh Assembly government website, I'll post it. It was hilarious. It came from San Francisco.

[danthekeeper]

Originally Posted by Eryri

One of the most bizarre proposals (that the Welsh Government were legally obliged to consider) was the 'cow nappy'. This is to prevent the accumulation of cow pats in the fields, which provide habitat for beetle type organisms which tempt badgers into the pasture. If I manage to find the consultations link on the Welsh Assembly government website, I'll post it. It was hilarious. It came from San Francisco.

Your post has really cheered me up I haven't laughed so much in ages

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Eryri

One of the most bizarre proposals (that the Welsh Government were legally obliged to consider) was the 'cow nappy'. This is to prevent the accumulation of cow pats in the fields, which provide habitat for beetle type organisms which tempt badgers into the pasture. If I manage to find the consultations link on the Welsh Assembly government website, I'll post it. It was hilarious. It came from San Francisco.

lol - do you think they were propsing disposables or cloth nappies? Just ridiculous - a far better idea would have been to potty train them

[ZeusS]

The success rate for the TB (BCG) vaccination for cattle has been quoted by posters at 80%. This is actually BETTER than the existing skin test system that is the cause of so many problems for farmers. If a vaccination programme is good enough for humans then surely it can be used for cattle too - unless of course existing vested interest reasons kick in.

[ZeusS]

The success rate for the TB (BCG) vaccination for cattle has been quoted by posters at 80%. This is actually BETTER than the existing skin test system that is the cause of so many problems for farmers. If a vaccination programme is good enough for humans then surely it can be used for cattle too - unless of course existing vested interest reasons kick in.