Bovine TB - Discuss
Discussion
I was recently sent the link to this documentary;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofTpfzEUUBY
Now I have personal view, because not only am I a farmer, but we also live in a TB riddled area. I was wondering what peoples opinions were?
Personally, the most stressful time i have ever been in is the annual TB test, its the fine line between it all being fine, and complete loss of not only your cattle, but your job, house, and way of life, all in a small lump on a cows neck, which could actually mean that the animal is immune. I also don't understand why cattle seem to be lesser animals than a badger, not only a badger, but one that is terminally ill. considering that cows have been around for a damn site longer than badgers have on this little island we live on.
So far around here, in the last 3 years, 3 farmers have killed themselves after finding out that they were going to loose all their animals, and you have to remember that these are living things, they have their own unique personalities, and many farmers spend more time with their cows than they do with anyone else.
the debate on TB for me seems to be hugely marred by both hysterics by the badger protection committee, and mis-infomation about the evil murdering farmers, with no retort from the as usual bloody useless NFU.
So, what is everyone's opinion? are you pro cull, anti-cull unsure? anything, just say what you know even if you don't have a clue.
I was considering the NE&P or Animals section, but this is more about the information and personal views behind this (also, no one goes in those
)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofTpfzEUUBY
Now I have personal view, because not only am I a farmer, but we also live in a TB riddled area. I was wondering what peoples opinions were?
Personally, the most stressful time i have ever been in is the annual TB test, its the fine line between it all being fine, and complete loss of not only your cattle, but your job, house, and way of life, all in a small lump on a cows neck, which could actually mean that the animal is immune. I also don't understand why cattle seem to be lesser animals than a badger, not only a badger, but one that is terminally ill. considering that cows have been around for a damn site longer than badgers have on this little island we live on.
So far around here, in the last 3 years, 3 farmers have killed themselves after finding out that they were going to loose all their animals, and you have to remember that these are living things, they have their own unique personalities, and many farmers spend more time with their cows than they do with anyone else.
the debate on TB for me seems to be hugely marred by both hysterics by the badger protection committee, and mis-infomation about the evil murdering farmers, with no retort from the as usual bloody useless NFU.
So, what is everyone's opinion? are you pro cull, anti-cull unsure? anything, just say what you know even if you don't have a clue.
I was considering the NE&P or Animals section, but this is more about the information and personal views behind this (also, no one goes in those
)66comanche said:
I thought farmers generally just routinely killed them on or near their land regardless of whatever protection they supposedly have?
Like with everything in life there will be people who break the law. But its no way routine. Way I see it, farmers get enough bad publicity about the TB debate without going on with a total disregard for the law.Thanks for posting the video Agrispeed. I think its about time people learnt the affect of TB on farmers and not just the touchy feely approach favoured by the media. Sadly suicide amongst stock farmers due to TB is far too high. Not to mention the emotional impact it creates, as well as the general delusion caused by that little lump. As cattle owner ourselves the TB threat is never far away, even though we are in a clear area. Its come quite close twice in the past year, our neighbours had a false positive and my grandad knows Ken Jackson quite well. Famed for fighting tooth and nail to save his best bull.
Another thing I'd like to add based on the video, the longhorn breed is a lot rarer than the badger. And I'd say that people are a lot less attached to a badger than Dai was to his cattle
I find it sad really, our voice as a farming community always seems to be drowned out by the anti-cull lobby. The media doesnt seem to help either, meaning the publc don't understand the true effects of TB, on farmers, their stock, and the badgers (thats right, they die horrible deaths from TB)
Edited by Farmerlad on Friday 18th May 17:16
Farmers are a pain; they create noise, smell, kill wildlife, now responsible for global warming thanks to cow farts, they take slow tractors down the roads in summer and are destroying native wildlife.
Food comes from Tesco, didnt anyone tell you this?
And badger-wagers are nice and cuddlwy with their bwack and white stwipes. Awwww.
Get f
ked. You wanna eat? Then let us do our job and protect our livestock. TB should have been dealt with years ago.
Food comes from Tesco, didnt anyone tell you this?
And badger-wagers are nice and cuddlwy with their bwack and white stwipes. Awwww.
Get f
ked. You wanna eat? Then let us do our job and protect our livestock. TB should have been dealt with years ago. Bovine Tb is devastating to affected farmers, and in theory I'd be in favour of a badger cull. I did think, however that where they had experimentally culled a sett, it actually increased badger movement in the area as new badgers moved in. This in turn helped Tb spread.
I worked in an agric college during foot and mouth - that was hell, too.
I worked in an agric college during foot and mouth - that was hell, too.
What about the theory(ies?) that badgers are merely a scapegoat and TB is spread by the excessive movement of cattle?
I'm not sure of the truth myself, but I know it took decades for surgeons to accept scrubbing up, as it meant accepting that they were themselves to blame for past death rates...
I'm not sure of the truth myself, but I know it took decades for surgeons to accept scrubbing up, as it meant accepting that they were themselves to blame for past death rates...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/3460...
plus another flaw is there is a method where bovine TB will infect badgers from cattle, but no obvious link how it would get from badgers to cattle.
plus another flaw is there is a method where bovine TB will infect badgers from cattle, but no obvious link how it would get from badgers to cattle.
TheEnd said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/3460...
plus another flaw is there is a method where bovine TB will infect badgers from cattle, but no obvious link how it would get from badgers to cattle.
I've seen many a badger pausing to drink from a cattle trough, or messing in the feed, so i guess its plausible that way...plus another flaw is there is a method where bovine TB will infect badgers from cattle, but no obvious link how it would get from badgers to cattle.
Although cattle are also a problem, Tb can spring up on farms that have had a complete cull from TB, so there must be another cause.
I think that Condi raises a valid point, that at the moment it seems to very much be that farmers are the evil guy, since when have you seen a modern farmer on TV who wasnt doing something bad? it seems that there is not necessarily a hatred, but more a failure to understand what they do, or to an extent, the entire countryside, which is perpetrated more and more by programs on TV, for example that urban foxes one... I cant remember badgers being so cuddly when they eat a slow to get up lambs eyes, while its still alive.
the point raised by badger movement is a key one, which is why the proposed cull in Cornwall was put forward, due to there being no way for them to escape the peninsula.
I have no problem with wildlife, and i do like to see a healthy fox, or badger, but you have to remember that these animals are very very sick and probably in a lot of pain, the whole fluffy badger thing doesn't quite work when the badger is in pain, and would be kinder to be killed...
anyway, I'm ranting, and I'm gonna go and shoot some bunnies (
), which although it sounds bad is actually good for them, as we have a lot of cases of mixymitosis locally, which is really heartbreaking to see. see; farmers arnt the evil killers you see on TV, we really love our animals, and the countryside
Farmerlad said:
Agrispeed said:
see; farmers arnt the evil killers you see on TV, we really love our animals, and the countryside
This. I don't think people seem to understand how a farmer can love his animalsTrommel said:
GetCarter said:
They do however, sometimes point double barrel shotguns at you when you stray 10 yards off a footpath. One of the main reasons I got out of rural England. I can't be doing with that sort of behaviour.
Buy a better map.ETA... it's a legal requirement they ignore most of the time. Still they don't want us on their land, so I can see why.
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 18th May 18:20
GetCarter said:
Get the farmers to keep the pathways properly marked!
ETA... it's a legal requirement they ignore most of the time. Still they don't want us on their land, so I can see why.
Do you like people walking through your back garden, office or workshop?ETA... it's a legal requirement they ignore most of the time. Still they don't want us on their land, so I can see why.
Besides, walkers I dont have a problem with. Nobody has a problem with walkers. Its the motorbikes, the dogs off leads, the beer cans thrown into the hedge bottoms, the tyres chucked off the path or thrown into the crop...
And yet, of course, we are the ignorant b
ds who are the problem. As a butcher, Im with the farmers on this.
Few years ago a mate and myself where out in some local forest at dusk walking his two labs,
we came across a badger set, the dogs where going nuts around the entrance.
Then out came the biggest longest badger I have ever seen,and Ive seen a few, it went straight for one of the labs,a throat jobbie.
Both dogs went for it, lots of noise and by the time we got up the hill, the badger had seen them off with blood all over the dogs, cuts on their ears and head.
So my point is they are visious buggers and need sorting out.
Or relocate safely else where.
Few years ago a mate and myself where out in some local forest at dusk walking his two labs,
we came across a badger set, the dogs where going nuts around the entrance.
Then out came the biggest longest badger I have ever seen,and Ive seen a few, it went straight for one of the labs,a throat jobbie.
Both dogs went for it, lots of noise and by the time we got up the hill, the badger had seen them off with blood all over the dogs, cuts on their ears and head.
So my point is they are visious buggers and need sorting out.
Or relocate safely else where.
Condi said:
GetCarter said:
Get the farmers to keep the pathways properly marked!
ETA... it's a legal requirement they ignore most of the time. Still they don't want us on their land, so I can see why.
Do you like people walking through your back garden, office or workshop?ETA... it's a legal requirement they ignore most of the time. Still they don't want us on their land, so I can see why.
Besides, walkers I dont have a problem with. Nobody has a problem with walkers. Its the motorbikes, the dogs off leads, the beer cans thrown into the hedge bottoms, the tyres chucked off the path or thrown into the crop...
And yet, of course, we are the ignorant b
ds who are the problem. 
I'm going to stop de-railing this thread as it's about TB, not footpaths, but having lived in the Cotswolds in amongst a farming community for the best part of two decades, an area where 80% of the legal rights of way were (are?) illegally blocked off to the rest of us that are not farmers, I'd just like to suggest that the countryside should be a place which we should all (excluding the folk mentioned above) be allowed to enjoy. Not just the ones with the deeds and the guns.
I'm outahere as this is a diversion. Apols to OP
As a butcher, Im with the farmers on this.
Few years ago a mate and myself where out in some local forest at dusk walking his two labs,
we came across a badger set, the dogs where going nuts around the entrance.
Then out came the biggest longest badger I have ever seen,and Ive seen a few, it went straight for one of the labs,a throat jobbie.
Both dogs went for it, lots of noise and by the time we got up the hill, the badger had seen them off with blood all over the dogs, cuts on their ears and head.
So my point is they are visious buggers and need sorting out.
Or relocate safely else where.
Few years ago a mate and myself where out in some local forest at dusk walking his two labs,
we came across a badger set, the dogs where going nuts around the entrance.
Then out came the biggest longest badger I have ever seen,and Ive seen a few, it went straight for one of the labs,a throat jobbie.
Both dogs went for it, lots of noise and by the time we got up the hill, the badger had seen them off with blood all over the dogs, cuts on their ears and head.
So my point is they are visious buggers and need sorting out.
Or relocate safely else where.
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