Badgers

[Linda]

From Janet

Was so pleased to hear on the news yesterday that, in England, badgers have been saved from the threatened cull, for the time being. I really don't know much about the link between them and TB in cattle, as I thought that badgers ate mostly earthworms and lived in wooded areas, but I believe that farmers are very upset by this decision.

Janet

[gloria townsin]

If they could prove outright that Badgers do infect cattle with TB then, and very regretfully, I would have to support the idea of culling them as there is so much at stake for the farmer, but they don't seem to be able to come to that conclusion so to cull such a delightful animal is extreme to say the least. I mean what if having culled them and wiped them out as a species cattle still became infected, think what would have been lost. So I agree with Janet. I am surprised that in this day and age they can't medicate bovines in their hard food against the disease, but then I am not medical and I should think all avenues have been looked into.

[Kath Mulligan]

This used to be an issue when I worked for the NFU too. Farmers had mixed feelings. Obviously when their livelihoods were at stake if part of their herd got TB and the rest had to be slaughtered too, they wanted to know what had caused the infection in the first place. Where badgers were suspected, then they would support a cull, but don't forget that lots of farmers are very pro-wildlife too and not all of them support a widespread cull, only where it becomes absolutely necessary. There were some studies done which seemed to give weight to the idea that badgers are carriers, but others failed to make the connection. So I guess the jury is out until a definitive answer can be given.

Kath

[janice]

It's a really difficult one, isn't it - on the one hand. badgers are so cute and on the other hand, the farmers livelihood is at stake! Like you. I agree we need more definite information as to the facts of badgers carrying TB and while it is so unsure, I'm glad it looks like the cull is off at least for a while.

[ellie]

I did hear/read a point of view that it was 'the other way round'..that badgers caught TB from cows? Anyone else heard that one?
Ive never yet seen a live badger..only dead ones at side of road!
and yet we live in totally rural area and have badgers up the lane!

My son was out for a walk one evening when he heard a growling and a badger poked his head through the hedge at side of lane!
Wish Id have seen it :lol:

[gloria townsin]

Hi Ellie, no I have never heard badgers catch TB from cows only the other way round.
Good to hear from you again. :D

[Kath Mulligan]

I've never heard of that one either, even when working at the NFU. I saw on the news the other night that a female farmworker has caught bovine TB though.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Did you see the beautiful Devonshire cattle on Jimmy's Farm last night? I am always pleased when I see they are rescuing the old breeds. We used to have a farm nearby who bred Saddleback and Gloucester Old Spot pigs then all of a sudden they were gone and then the Old Spot went right down in numbers, thankfully now being bred again. Jimmy Dougherty has picked up the breeding of the Essex pig which was in real decline. When I had my Shetland Sheep, which actually came off the endangered list, I belonged to the Rare Breeds Trust they had a very interesting show at Stoneleigh with all rare breed clubs present. I love things like that. :)

Not so enjoyable was the programme about pedigree dogs. I know there are lots of problems with various breeds and whatever the KC says it doesn't do enough to regulate how dogs are bred, by whom, how many litters, etc. etc. If you take the Breed Supplements which they publish listing litters bred for each breed it becomes very apparent where litters are being bred to the extent of puppy farming, the KC registers these puppies which the general public see as some kind of guarantee that they are buying a well bred puppy (why wouldn't they it is most peoples first port of call when they are looking for a specific breed) but in truth a large proportion of puppies registered are either puppy farmed or as good as. It costs the breeder £12 per puppy to register it at the KC.......

[Janet Swan]

I saw Jimmy's programme last night - the series, in celebration of British farmers and growers (not on his own Essex farm but in the West Country yesterday), has been excellent. Serious stuff presented in an appreciative and understandable way. So good to see the cows with calves. Also that icecream looked incredibly delicious! Earlier he met a grower whose farm overlooked St Michael's Mount, and helped him find local markets for his super salads, including 'The Turks Head' in Penzance, where Kath, Joan, Colleen, Judy, Irene and I ate during last Memorial Weekend. (Second thoughts - did we eat there or The Admiral Benbow, Kath - they are in the same street?)

Janet

[Kath Mulligan]

Think it was the Admiral Benbow that we chose in the end, Janet - the one with the figure on the roof and the wonky shaped rooms? Where we waited an absolute age before we could even get a drink, let alone a meal!!

Kath

[Joan]

Janet - Kath is right, it was the Admiral Benbow we went to (and it is in the same street as the Turks Head). Robert and I normally eat at the Turks Head, as there is a varied choice of menu, and also an outside covered courtyard at the back.

I missed the 'Jimmy programme' this week, which is a shame, as I'm sure I would have enjoyed that particular episode. Do they repeat it again on any other day?

Joan

[Dex Cameron]

Here, in rural South Somerset, we are surrounded by sheep and cattle and... badgers. I haven't heard of this being a particular problem. On the contrary, the theory goes that if you cull a proportion of badgers you can exaccerbate the problem of them spreading TB by effectively forcing the remaining badgers to roam further afield in search of mates.

I think there is an effective vaccination but, as ever, it comes back to £sd.