Badger cull South West

[Joe662]

Just heard on news about another badger cull being rolled out at TB hotspots accross Devon and Cornwall!!

We have not even got any results from the wales cull as far as i know, so why on earth do this

BBC News - Minister signals Devon and Cornwall badger TB cull

[werdnal]

Sad isn't it.

I know lots of local farmers have had TB here, but also know of others with active badger setts on their land, who have never had a confirmed case. I even know one old chap who was a herdsman for years, swore that cattle gave it to badgers!

Years ago, cattle were kept out most of the year, and I don't know whether TB was more or less prevalent then, or whether it just wasn't known about. Modern farming methods bring cattle indoors for the winter. In the past, when TB was prevalent in humans, it was caused by overcrowded, damp living conditions. Makes you wonder if keeping cattle indoors adds to the problem.

[paulthomas]

There are a lot of confusing messages coming from the Government. On the one hand Agriculture Minister Jim Paice seems to be announcing an immediate cull and on the other hand his boss, Rural Affairs Secretary Caroline Spelman, has announced that she is going to review the scientific evidence (which will hopefully include the latest evidence of how transitory the benefits of culling are) and will also wait for the outcome of the Welsh cull before deciding. Just how long she intends to wait is anybody's guess. One year? Two years? Five years?

[Bumblebeebob]

Some very mixed messages in the coalition proramme, on one hand they say "we will introduce measures to protect wildlife......." & then say things like "as part of a package of measures, we will introduce a carefully managed & science-led policy of Badger control in areas with high & persistent bovine TB"

So protect wildlife as long as it isn't Badgers & Foxes.

[Hobjob]

There some longish bits on radio 4's to-day programme this am from both sides.

I know there are some pasionattas on WAB who might like to go browsing in the archives.

The badger man came across very well - the politicians a bit fence sitting. Nothing decided yet though.

[paulthomas]

This may be the link. It's the one sent out yesterday by the Badger Trust:

BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Farming Today

[artdemole]

So much for biodiversity with death in mind for badger!

[paulthomas]

It seems that the Daily Mail of all papers is on our side:

LIZ JONES: A new, touchy-feely democracy? Try telling that to the badgers... | Mail Online

I would have expected the Mail to be pro-cull so this is a very welcome article.

[stripee]

Originally Posted by paulthomas

It seems that the Daily Mail of all papers is on our side:

LIZ JONES: A new, touchy-feely democracy? Try telling that to the badgers... | Mail Online

I would have expected the Mail to be pro-cull so this is a very welcome article.

The Daily Mail seems to have a soft spot for badgers.

Tonight - John Craven Countryfile BBC1 8pm discusses the Welsh cull and issues re culling badgers.

Y Byd ar Bedwar - S4C - 9.30pm, Monday 24th May
About the welsh badger cull. There is a play it again facility on the S4C site with subtitles for some programmes.

youtube video: sett to

YouTube - (1)20100518-101727.mpg


Latest DEFRA figures on bovine TB begin to show decline from last year:

Defra Economics & Statistics - Incidence of TB in Cattle

[JoulesH]

Originally Posted by werdnal

Sad isn't it.

Years ago, cattle were kept out most of the year, and I don't know whether TB was more or less prevalent then, or whether it just wasn't known about.

Neither. It was very much known about. TB in cattle was rife in the 19th and early in the 20th century, before the Ministry started its TB eradication campaign. The fictional James Herriot character went TB testing on his honeymoon pre-WW2. The main reason for the campaign was to reduce the spread into humans through drinking milk which was largely unpasteurised. A combination of TB testing, cattle culling, pasteurising milk and yes, before they were protected, controlling badgers had almost eliminated it in this country. There IS an issue with housing of cattle - badgers come into cattle sheds to eat (esp maize silage) from the cattle troughs. Once infected, cattle will pass it more easily to each other in close proximity just as will any species. My Dad was a herdsman down in Glos in the 1950's and my brother caught TB from drinking unpasteurised milk. The herd was culled and Dad lost his job.
A lot of cattle have always been housed, look at all the old crew yards and cow byres, there were just fewer cattle full stop 150 years ago. We could not keep our cattle out all year round on welfare, food hygiene or environmental management grounds. On heavy clay the farm would be a quagmire. Hence the victorian cattle buildings.