BBC again

[Bill the Bass]

Vet says badger culls caused 'immense pain'

The 9,000 animals culled to control cattle TB suffered terribly, says a former government adviser.

www.bbc.co.uk

A vet in the article is complaining that there is a lack of monitoring of cull activity, yet he is stating that 23%of badgers die in ‘immense pain’. How do they know if the monitoring is not there?

Yet another example of the BBC’s shoddy journalism when it comes to farming issues. If it’s a positive story they always manage to put some quotes in from some anecdotal naysayers to show the other side but when it’s a negative story they never get our side of the story across.

There should be a BBC ‘sticky’ on the Farming Forum and at the end of the year we could send all the poorly written articles back with a complaint on behalf of 40,000 people.

 

[matthew]

Re the BBC piece. I wonder what the FoI question actually asked?

The reason I query it is after a conversation with a leading light in the Somerset cull, a few years ago the protocol for timing of shot badgers (free range - not caged) was explained. There had been similar startling headlines.

The stop watch is clicked when the shot is fired, then the shooter has to put on TB bio proof clothing, scramble, in the dark, to where he thinks the carcase may be. This may be 100 yards away - or the range of the rifle. It may be across a stream, or rocks and he not be as agile as the foot footed pest he has just dispatched.
Only when he reaches said badger can he then tickle its eyelid with a stick, which he may have in his pocket - or not. If there is no response, he waves to his buddy, who clicks the stopwatch again.

So the timing is not the length of time it takes a badger to die, but the length of time it takes the shooter to get to the carcase and ascertain that death has occurred.

Huge difference. This is mischief.

 

[matthew]

Further to ^^^ - from the Bible of how to shoot a badger.

"After shooting a badger and in the belief of correct shot placement, ,regardless of first impressions (unless it is obviously still alive), an assessment needs to be made to confirm that it is dead. A final check for signs of life must be made within 5 minutes of the final shot to that animal and before the animal is bagged up."

This is a direct quote and the 5 minutes in BOLD are there too.
There follows a check list to ascertain death, including the corneal check I mentioned.

 

[2wheels]

Why would the shooter need a tb proof suit if badgers don'thave tb?

 

[Bill the Bass]

Re the BBC piece. I wonder what the FoI question actually asked?

The reason I query it is after a conversation with a leading light in the Somerset cull, a few years ago the protocol for timing of shot badgers (free range - not caged) was explained. There had been similar startling headlines.

The stop watch is clicked when the shot is fired, then the shooter has to put on TB bio proof clothing, scramble, in the dark, to where he thinks the carcase may be. This may be 100 yards away - or the range of the rifle. It may be across a stream, or rocks and he not be as agile as the foot footed pest he has just dispatched.
Only when he reaches said badger can he then tickle its eyelid with a stick, which he may have in his pocket - or not. If there is no response, he waves to his buddy, who clicks the stopwatch again.

So the timing is not the length of time it takes a badger to die, but the length of time it takes the shooter to get to the carcase and ascertain that death has occurred.

Huge difference. This is mischief.

As I mentioned, there is NEVER any effort made in these type of stories to air the other side, or in this case the truth.

 

[matthew]

I've just blogged it - again.

The Badger Benefit Corps, BBC - at it again.

We are used now to the stream of 'fake news' coming from the UK's self pronounced premier broadcaster. And today is no exception. An ex ch...

bovinetb.blogspot.com

As I mentioned, there is NEVER any effort made in these type of stories to air the other side, or in this case the truth.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

@matthew whenever the “big” animal diseases are discussed you are always there with knowledgeable and professional opinion and/or experience.

Would you be good enough to briefly explain how you have such knowledge?

By the way, I’m not questioning your input in any way, just interested. On Foot and Mouth for instance, you seem to have gained a wealth of first hand experience.

Thank you.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Radio 4 lunchtime news.
Interview with the Head of the Badger Trust.
Everything he said was incorrect or deliberately misleading.
No counter-view given.

Bias Broadcasting Cooperation strikes again

 

[slackjawedyokel]

I heard that bit on the news this lunchtime - only the views of one side represented (badger trust interviewed and the views of a ‘leading vet’ reported). The impression given (to the general public) that not only is culling very cruel, all scientific evidence shows that it helps to spread TB.

This really is despicable broadcasting.

 

[matthew]

@matthew whenever the “big” animal diseases are discussed you are always there with knowledgeable and professional opinion and/or experience.

Would you be good enough to briefly explain how you have such knowledge?

By the way, I’m not questioning your input in any way, just interested. On Foot and Mouth for instance, you seem to have gained a wealth of first hand experience.

Thank you.

I'm nosey.

I have a cynical view of politicians in general, MAFF / DEFRA / APHA too and question everything I'm told. My trust in such bodies went many years ago, and that cynicism is born of bitter experience and a very long memory.
I'm also lucky enough to have made contact with some extremely clever people who have supported me and my questions over 30 + years. For my sins I'm also a part time journalist as well as a livestock farmer.

 

[uztrac]

All part of the biased broadcasters efforts to get the anti agri brigade to reduce their meat consumption.No cattle therefore no reason to cull badgers !!!!

 

[DrWazzock]

And how long do they take to die and in how much pain when they haven't been shot?
On morphine in homes for retired badgers?
What a joke.

 

[Princess Pooper]

https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/09/09/response-to-coverage-on-badger-cull/

 

[rob1]

https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/09/09/response-to-coverage-on-badger-cull/

I wonder why he bbc didnt ask defra for a comment before they ran their story, of course they dont want to show a balance just their bias, its a sad state for a once great news organisation to have fallen so low

 

[Scribus]

I wonder why he bbc didnt ask defra for a comment before they ran their story, of course they dont want to show a balance just their bias, its a sad state for a once great news organisation to have fallen so low

I don't know if it ever was that great TBH. Looking back we were repeatedly told that the BBC was a paragon of virtue, just so long as it was the virtue of the establishment when you look a little closer.

 

[Raider112]

https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/09/09/response-to-coverage-on-badger-cull/

It's good that they replied so quickly but they still left the number of slow deaths unchallenged rather than explaining the procedure they have to follow.

 

[Steevo]

I seem to remember badgers with TB die in immense pain and a long slow death.....maybe this chap got things the wrong way round!

 

[michael N123]

It’s daft the Amount of farmers and gamekeepers with rifles lamps and night vision who are more than capable of doing the job themselfs all we need is the over populated vermin put on the general licence and that would be it

But no it has to be carried out in a stupid manner costing millions with locations getting leaked to saboteurs who feck it all up

And don’t get me started on the badger trust it’s a charity taking money of idiots to pay there staff and CEOs it’s not actually doing anything of any use

 

[michael N123]

I seem to remember badgers with TB die in immense pain and a long slow death.....maybe this chap got things the wrong way round!

I’m amazed with all the rules and hoops they don’t have to shoot them twice

 

[kfpben]

University of Cambridge: Removing meat 'cut carbon emissions'

Farmers criticise the University of Cambridge's choice to replace beef and lamb with plant-based products.

www.bbc.co.uk

The agenda continues...