Badger madness

[Qman]

Can you believe this? http://www.birdfoodsdirect.com/shop/info_BF12.html

Or for living feed for Brock fatten up your hedgehogs with this http://www.birdfoodsdirect.com/shop/info_JJ37A.html

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

Fattening Brock up to finish him for Badger hams?

 

[roscoe erf]

Can you believe this? http://www.birdfoodsdirect.com/shop/info_BF12.html

Or for living feed for Brock fatten up your hedgehogs with this http://www.birdfoodsdirect.com/shop/info_JJ37A.html

Did you read the list of ingredients strychnine

 

[SRRC]

2kg pack for £20 + p&p!
Brilliant marketing!

 

[matthew]

It's been around a while...
http://bovinetb.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/happy-brocklemas.html

Came as a shock to us, too.

 

[Blue.]

It's been around a while...
http://bovinetb.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/happy-brocklemas.html

Came as a shock to us, too.

I see you have been writing on the blog for 10 years,that takes some dedication.

 

[matthew]

I see you have been writing on the blog for 10 years,that takes some dedication.

Berluddy sad, I call it.

 

[Fiacre]

At over £1500/t they must be taking the mick.

 

[Old Boar]

Well, thats not peanuts!


Oh, it is.

 

[Walterp]

I see you have been writing on the blog for 10 years,that takes some dedication.

Nice to see you here, providing access to the most trenchant commentary on bTB available.

 

[matthew]

Nice to see you here, providing access to the most trenchant commentary on bTB available.

Mmmm. Thanks Walterp.
Whether or not any of us contribute to TFF is immaterial: access to the TBblog is free to all.

For 'trenchant' read cynical deconstruct of political, modeled and ultimately corrupt 'science'?

But have we achieved anything at all (except a blinding headache)? Doubtful.

 

[Walterp]

Mmmm.

But have we achieved anything at all (except a blinding headache)? Doubtful.

Heck! Don't say that!

Shed-loads of farmers really appreciate the commentary and info that's put out; I know that we wouldn't be at all informed without reading it, and information is power: it helps put AHVLA and WAG on the back foot and, just as importantly, enables farmers everywhere in affected areas to come to a decision as to whether to take a view and persevere with outdoor cattle raising or direct land to dairy support, or sheep, instead.

Taking a view, I'd suggest that 2013 might mark the turning-point - if the Conservatives win the next general election, a better cull will proceed and the UK beef industry will be preserved. (To some people, it's the only argument for voting for David Cameron).

I've discussed this with Julie, and she's prepared to stick it out, and move into pedigree breeding to maintain compensation values, in the hope it'll come right. Timescale? The next GE...

 

[Paddington]

Berluddy sad, I call it.

Stick in there, Matthew, it's good to read some accurate and informed information instead of all the twaddle we are being fed by the BBC.

 

[matthew]

Thanks folks.
We were forced by a load of really 'orrible comments to zap the debate option on the site a couple of years ago - a trait now copied by FWi and FG on zTB threads. They too realised that the cattle, sheep, pig and alpaca farmers were talking to a brick wall when it came to badgerists' dogma. And it really didn't matter what info we posted, it all came down to lousy farmers and bad biosecurity.

"What part of 'bovine' don't you understand?"
It's a cattle disease. End of. And dear old Defra say the same.

http://bovinetb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/yoosful-site-or-not.html

Hence our borrowing the American title, and rechristening the disease 'zoonotic' Tuberculosis.

 

[Dr Evil]

I've discussed this with Julie, and she's prepared to stick it out, and move into pedigree breeding to maintain compensation values, in the hope it'll come right. Timescale? The next GE...

Might be influenced by Alun Davies' announcement that he's launching a consultation on introducing tabular valuations in Wales in the near future

 

[Walterp]

Might be influenced by Alun Davies' announcement that he's launching a consultation on introducing tabular valuations in Wales in the near future

Yes.

There are fairly regular dispersals of pedigree Hereford herds (one coming up shortly, again) where it's often possible to buy reasonable cattle to breed up from at prices that make them worth more if they go down with bTB after purchase.

On the other hand, it's no wonder Ford Abbey sold up - being just over the border in Worcestershire, they must've grown sick of killing some of the best Hereford breeding stock in the country for peanuts.

 

[matthew]

Tabular valuation is a typically bureaucratic response to an increasing cost problem. Try to reduce unit price. But if the numbers attracting that unit price continue to rise, then it is of short term benefit to the Treasury.
Exeter University did the project for England / GB? in 2005, and concluded that 90 per cent of the actual valuations were in line. The eye watering over values were balanced in part by some seriously under valued stock. But it was still going to happen, as government had to save money.

Veterinary costs are under the cosh in much the same way. Lay testers (operating to a least-cost contract) is out for tender - but is also up for 'consultation'. Go figure.

Occasionally dairy cattle may have to lose their paperwork, as commercial values running over a different time scale mean more cash for reactors. But Defra apparatchics have been known to enter the tag number in HUK's database and apply the lower figure, even with no pedigree certificate..

 

[C.J]

Thanks folks.
We were forced by a load of really 'orrible comments to zap the debate option on the site a couple of years ago - a trait now copied by FWi and FG on zTB threads. They too realised that the cattle, sheep, pig and alpaca farmers were talking to a brick wall when it came to badgerists' dogma. And it really didn't matter what info we posted, it all came down to lousy farmers and bad biosecurity.

"What part of 'bovine' don't you understand?"
It's a cattle disease. End of. And dear old Defra say the same.

http://bovinetb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/yoosful-site-or-not.html

Hence our borrowing the American title, and rechristening the disease 'zoonotic' Tuberculosis.

Take H.I.V (Human Immunodeficiency Virus ) first discovered in humans but caught from monkeys.

European badgers would have been infecting Red Deer and Wild Boar with Tb ,long before Bovines were introduced.

 

[Philip Watkins]

Yes.

There are fairly regular dispersals of pedigree Hereford herds (one coming up shortly, again) where it's often possible to buy reasonable cattle to breed up from at prices that make them worth more if they go down with bTB after purchase.

On the other hand, it's no wonder Ford Abbey sold up - being just over the border in Worcestershire, they must've grown sick of killing some of the best Hereford breeding stock in the country for peanuts.

Thought Ford Abbey is Herefordshire, minor detail as the statement still applies.

 

[Exfarmer]

Take H.I.V (Human Immunodeficiency Virus ) first discovered in humans but caught from monkeys.

European badgers would have been infecting Red Deer and Wild Boar with Tb ,long before Bovines were introduced.

No it is fairly certain that the transmission route was humans to bovines about 5-700 years ago
Badgers probably only picked it up very recently.
Remember any badgers near human locations would have been prized for the meat , which was available to any peasant to take, unlike rabbits hare etc. which would belong to The Lord of the Manor

It is quite possible TB became endemic in badgers in the last century.