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Post by jonjel on Apr 20, 2011 10:55:51 GMT 1
I see in the press that the National Trust are to experiment with inoculation of badgers on the Killerton estate in Devon in an effort to see if it has any effect n bovine TB in the area.
I have lived in the country all my life and am genuinely unsure as to whether badgers infect cattle, or it is the cattle infecting the badgers.
I do know that some years back all badgers were culled in an area of Gloucestershire bordered by rivers canals and motorways. I lived there and it was an unpleasant time. I don't think the experiment was particularly conclusive. I understand a similar programme is being proposed for parts of Pembrokeshire, but has been temporarily blocked by some pressure groups.
So, are the badgers the guilty party, or are they innocent victims? What is the evidence on both sides of the argument.
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Post by alanseago on Apr 20, 2011 11:00:36 GMT 1
They could fit udder shields to the cows.
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Post by jonjel on Apr 20, 2011 14:12:33 GMT 1
There is a time and a place for a one liner Alan, but I did not think it would be here.
I was trying to start some reasonable informed debate.
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Post by principled on Apr 20, 2011 19:51:24 GMT 1
Jonjel I can remember 50 years ago when my uncle had a farm in Somerset that he was paid extra for having a TB tested herd. What I don't understand is the apparent delay in vacinating herds. The link below is from a 2007 paper where it was implied that vaccination would start in 2010. www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/jul/31/uknews.animalrightsFrom what I've read, it would seem that where there is contact between wild animals and domesticaterd ones, then TB is a problem. Scroll down to the bottom of this wiki link and you'll see what I mean. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TuberculosisMass culling does seem rather drastic for the 21st century. P
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Post by jonjel on Apr 21, 2011 9:10:36 GMT 1
Thanks for the link P. That is a long article which I will read when I get time (that will be written on my grave when they bury me with all the books I own and have not had time to read!)
What was interesting is that in the final section two independent studies came up with almost exactly opposite conclusions.
As for vaccination, I will ask my veterinary guru when I see him, but I think the reason cattle are not routinely vaccinated is that it would dramatically reduce the value of exported prime livestock for breeding. However I have to question the value of that market compared with the cost of recompense for slaughtered stock.
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