The madness of “one size fits all “

[multi power]

There's a fair bit wrong with the test to be fair, and the test as performed here isn't exactly the same as is used around the world, but I think in this instance he's clutching at straws. If there's more than one reactor there then the overwhelming odds are that there is TB there.

So what is wrong with the test? Ok yes we don't do it the same as New Zealand for example, they don't do the avain jab, nor do they even measure lumps, and it works

 

[Bald Rick]

Trouble is we ARE NOT fighting TB, we are removing reactors, but that is all
I'm sorry if I'm sounding harsh or negative, certainly not intended that way

Don’t have to apologise.. we accept we have to let this run its course but one has to agree that if all that is happening is reactors being removed then it is both fantastically expensive and seems a bit futile tbh

 

[sidjon]

Don’t have to apologise.. we accept we have to let this run its course but one has to agree that if all that is happening is reactors being removed then it is both fantastically expensive and seems a bit futile tbh

Welcome to the world of tb, we have had problems since 1991 and still haven't got any where, other than removing 1500 odd cattle

 

[Private Pike]

So what is wrong with the test? Ok yes we don't do it the same as New Zealand for example, they don't do the avain jab, nor do they even measure lumps, and it works

The test isn't sensitive enough, it produces too many false negatives.

Just using the one jab, as they do in New Zealand makes the test more sensitive, but less specific. Fewer false negatives so hopefully less infected animals left behind but the risk of more false positives.

 

[multi power]

Don’t have to apologise.. we accept we have to let this run its course but one has to agree that if all that is happening is reactors being removed then it is both fantastically expensive and seems a bit futile tbh

Totally agree, it really used to upset me, but I have taken the view that it's a problem for the 40% tax payers as they are paying for it

 

[Bald Rick]

Welcome to the world of tb, we have had problems since 1991 and still haven't got any where, other than removing 1500 odd cattle

Jesus H Christ! That’s appalling

 

[Bald Rick]

Totally agree, it really used to upset me, but I have taken the view that it's a problem for the 40% tax payers as they are paying for it

One wonders for how much longer although I note that the valuation process in Wales has been tightened up considerably as we had to produce PD certificates and WG now want proof of sale prices of similar animals

 

[multi power]

One wonders for how much longer although I note that the valuation process in Wales has been tightened up considerably as we had to produce PD certificates and WG now want proof of sale prices of similar animals

Be interesting to see what happens after Brexit

 

[lazy farmer]

Be interesting to see what happens after Brexit

What brexit !?

 

[Princess Pooper]

I have to say that as a big, hairy arsed middle aged man, I came very close to shedding a tear as I filled in the CTS “ Off Movements” this afternoon

And we have another three (including chocolate) to go next week as there wasn’t room in the abattoir plus another 15 to resample tomorrow as they took insufficient blood first time around

How you boys who have been under the cosh for years cope, I have no idea

You've had a sh!t day. My worst moment when we sent over 20 at once was having to read all the tag numbers out over the phone for the APHA lady for them to put on the licence to be taken for slaughter. Every one of them home bred and every one of them 5-6 months in calf to sexed semen. She was very patient as she could hear that I was struggling.

 

[Spear]

Worst 2 times for me were failing the first time. Lost 25 cows out of 120 averaging 45litres each and then 12 months later after losing 30% of herd to a skin test we volunteered to do bloods the week after and lost nearly 60% of what was left. Think we had 31 cows left, only then to be told they wouldn’t let us restock as we’d lost so many

 

[Spudley]

Or when your five year old daughter helps you wash and clip her pet cow for the valuer and gets up at 4 am to have one last cuddle before she's loaded up to be taken away and she still has a picture on her bookshelf years later

 

[Spear]

Or when your five year old daughter helps you wash and clip her pet cow for the valuer and gets up at 4 am to have one last cuddle before she's loaded up to be taken away and she still has a picture on her bookshelf years later

Plenty of moments like that. Never seen my eldest so angry as 1 night she came out to see cows and saw nearly all her favourite cows wearing green tags.

 

[matthew]

You've had a sh!t day. My worst moment when we sent over 20 at once was having to read all the tag numbers out over the phone for the APHA lady for them to put on the licence to be taken for slaughter. Every one of them home bred and every one of them 5-6 months in calf to sexed semen. She was very patient as she could hear that I was struggling

Agree with that^^

My worst day was two years into a four year breakdown. At that point, 60 day testing had only revealed NVLs . But in 2003, one reactor did have lesions, so retrospectively on severe interpretation, I too had that phone call and 17 out of 24 in calf heifers bit the dust.
One had never been out to grass.
We had no advice, no guidance but a home bred herd with no ‘bought in cattle’ - and that in writing from BCMS.

That made me angry, so I did a lot of digging. More than I’d done in previous years, which eventually led to the TB blog. As well as an information resource, it was an outlet for pent up anger at the incredibly stupid and futile system we have allowed in this country, since 1997, of shooting reactor cattle and leaving a maintenance reservoir of disease in wildlife.

Latest news tonight: Paignton zoo has lost another lion to TB. That’s two lions, a herd of antelope and breeding programme in tatters with animals on forced contraception to avoid overcrowding,
The zoo’s badger watch has closed down.
No comment from me on that debacle.

 

[Ducati899]

Or when your five year old daughter helps you wash and clip her pet cow for the valuer and gets up at 4 am to have one last cuddle before she's loaded up to be taken away and she still has a picture on her bookshelf years later

My OH had pictures everywhere in the house of her cuddling her favourite one,as soon as she’d walk in the cubicle shed the cow would stop what she was doing and head straight over to the OH and just rub up against her,she was the first animal on the list of positives on our blood test and I won’t lie a tear was shed.....by myself

 

[Ducati899]

Worst 2 times for me were failing the first time. Lost 25 cows out of 120 averaging 45litres each and then 12 months later after losing 30% of herd to a skin test we volunteered to do bloods the week after and lost nearly 60% of what was left. Think we had 31 cows left, only then to be told they wouldn’t let us restock as we’d lost so many

I’ve got a nasty feeling I’m looking at a situation like this,first skin test after initial blood test wasn’t clear..was told That another skin test would be ok and then they’d decide on another blood test after the results of that,then changed they’re minds and I have to skin & blood test the same day

 

[jade35]

@Bald Rick I wish I could say something positive but there is nothing other than we have been there as well and understand how you are feeling esp the total frustration.

Although a closed herd we knew for several years that it was gradually getting closer and closer until we went down as well. The ministry were picking up diseased badgers before the first herds, about 8 miles away, started having reactors. We started with one inconclusive South Devon (out of 2) and then it gradually got worse and worse.

The only positve that can be taken from the whole sorry mess is that it is no longer considered a 'dirty farmers' disease because once it has spread in an area almost everyone will be affected at one time or another and everyone has become very open about going under restriction rather than rumours and whispers going about.

This video shows what a badger will do to get through something!

http://www.tbhub.co.uk/biosecurity/biosecurity-guidance-farm-buildings/

 

[Beef farmer]

 

[matthew]

@Bald Rick I wish I could say something positive but there is nothing other than we have been there as well and understand how you are feeling esp the total frustration.

Although a closed herd we knew for several years that it was gradually getting closer and closer until we went down as well. The ministry were picking up diseased badgers before the first herds, about 8 miles away, started having reactors. We started with one inconclusive South Devon (out of 2) and then it gradually got worse and worse.

The only positve that can be taken from the whole sorry mess is that it is no longer considered a 'dirty farmers' disease because once it has spread in an area almost everyone will be affected at one time or another and everyone has become very open about going under restriction rather than rumours and whispers going about.

This video shows what a badger will do to get through something!

http://www.tbhub.co.uk/biosecurity/biosecurity-guidance-farm-buildings/

The video was shot after an alpaca paddock was fenced to prevent badger ingress. The first thing they forgot was to concrete under the gate.
The second was that gap between the post and the gate. It has to be less than 3” or those stripey Houdinis will slither in sideways. He battered that gate for almost 2 hours, just to get to his favourite latrine.

Another farmer finished his badger proof fence, dug 3’ under ground and turned at right angles, but left a ladder leaning on his buildings.
You know what happened don’t you?

Wherever those claws can gain purchase, the rest will follow.

 

[matthew]

View attachment 745426

The first casualties were a herd of rare antelope.
Then one lion, now another.