‘Fluffy’ Countryfile is only for townies, say angry farmers - Times

[Devil's advocate]

In breeding in cattle hasn't worked out well here. Undershot jaws and higher mortality rates when the bull had run with the heifer calves longer than he should have.

Yes that is exactly what the early stages of inbreeding gives you. Then all the weak ones die, taking their bad genes with them. It is not the inbreeding that directly causes the under shot jaws. It is a recessive faulty gene that has been concentrated, remove the gene, problem has gone.

The wild park cattle would surely have huge hibred vigour if crossed?

 

[caveman]

There aren't enough farmers watching to make the viewing figures stack up for prime time TV on a Sunday evening. What do they expect?

It would be nice to see one real farming story each week, which we usually get courtesy of Adam Henson.

The BBC, as a public broadcaster, has a duty to provide relative content to all groups of society, according to their percentage of representation.
Whether or not there is enough genuine agricultural content in Country File, Farming Today and other regular and one of presentations to satisfy thisremit is debatable.

 

[thatlldaespot]

Can't be cheap looking after the wild herd presumably at a cost to the Chillingham Estate, surprised that they don't take out some of the bulls at least as they are really nasty and fight a lot.

They surely do take out a few of the young bulls, and the odd older one, on the QT.

 

[Hilly]

They surely do take out a few of the young bulls, and the odd older one, on the QT.

How do you know ? do they just shoot them ?

 

[glasshouse]

Yes that is exactly what the early stages of inbreeding gives you. Then all the weak ones die, taking their bad genes with them. It is not the inbreeding that directly causes the under shot jaws. It is a recessive faulty gene that has been concentrated, remove the gene, problem has gone.

The wild park cattle would surely have huge hibred vigour if crossed?

inbreeding leads to v small animals.
thats how they ruined the aberdeen angus 100 yrs ago.

 

[gta123]

Country file is to farming what Top Gear is to motoring, pity John Craven wouldn't punch a producer.

Haha. It can be factual but its more for entertainment. It's more for hobby farmers and old people.