tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post8405660819545299976..comments2023-07-15T10:28:46.810+01:00Comments on Bovine TB: Welsh pilot area beginsRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02561483930556493363noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post-7770043739862711122010-05-20T09:00:53.015+01:002010-05-20T09:00:53.015+01:00Minister blocks cull of badgers in bovine TB hotsp...Minister blocks cull of badgers in bovine TB hotspots<br /><br />From The Times<br />May 20, 2010<br />www.timesonline.co.uk<br />http://preview.tinyurl.com/32lxwjr<br /><br /><br />Valerie Elliott<br /><br /><br /><br />Plans for an emergency cull of badgers in hotspots of bovine TB are to be delayed while Caroline Spelman, the Rural Affairs Secretary, reviews the scientific evidence.<br /><br />Ministers will also await the outcome of a pilot cull in West Wales before embarking on such a policy in England.<br /><br />The decision will disappoint many farmers, especially those in areas with highest incidence of the disease, such as the South West. A further review is surprising because the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats supported an emergency cull of badgers during the election campaign. The Conservatives have always seen vaccination as the eventual breakthrough to control the disease, although before the election Jim Paice, the Agriculture Minister, met officials at the Porton Down research establishment to see if it is possible to test badger setts for infection before any animals are killed.<br /><br />It is also unclear what message this sends to the shires, especially as the Government has already kicked into the long grass a free vote for MPs to repeal the hunting ban. Giving people the freedom to hunt has become as totemic an issue for the Tory faithful as it was for the Labour Party to ban the bloodsport.<br /><br />Senior figures at the Countryside Alliance, however, had prepared the ground well before the election result to dampen expectations for an early resolution on hunting. No one expected hunting to be a priority issue especially at a time of economic crisis.<br /><br />Simon Hart, former chief executive of the alliance and the newly elected Conservative MP for Carmarthen West, said: “As far as I am concerned there is no change in the position and the commitment to offer a vote on repeal is solid. Frankly it is a matter of trust between the Government and hundreds of voters and I am not going to get indignant about having to wait for another few months or for another year or so.”<br /><br />He said that a year ago many in the hunting world had not even expected the chance to repeal to be included in the Conservative manifesto but the commitment was ”a significant step forward”.<br /><br />He admitted there may be some impatience in some quarters and there would be anger if the commitment were dropped altogether. “But that is not the case. It will be done, it is when, not if. When the important issues of budget deficit reduction are sorted we’ll get a Parliamentary slot and deal with it.”<br /><br />Three men were arrested yesterday after officials were stopped from entering land to prepare for a badger cull in West Wales. A police spokeswoman said the men were later released and no action will be taken.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post-17937755641502280012010-05-05T15:44:28.704+01:002010-05-05T15:44:28.704+01:00Anon 12.41
Re your last point. If cattle are clea...Anon 12.41<br /><br />Re your last point. If cattle are clear on regular skin tests, there is no reason to cull badgers at all, other than overall population control. <br />We favour using the sentinel cattle tests, RTA badger pms, and 'other species' TB overspill to pinpoint where wildlife are causing problems. Then fieldcraft/PCR to further refine the exact origin, and only remove that source. But remove it completely. There is no reason to interfere with anything else.<br /><br />Enough taxpayer's money is spent obtaining this information. The messages are there from all three sources (tested cattle, badger pms and spillover TB) - no one is listening.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09293505337441558637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post-74636322738887328312010-05-05T12:41:36.343+01:002010-05-05T12:41:36.343+01:00"But by doing the two things parallel, we sus..."But by doing the two things parallel, we suspect that questions will be raised, should there be a drop in TB incidence, what was the cause of it?"<br /><br /><b>Quite so! And already have been</b><br /><br />"We also are aware from past experience of the English RBCT that the co-operation of farmers in any Animal Health initiative is vital."<br /><br /><b>Yes, but in Wales the necessary powers to force compliance are in place.</b><br /><br />"Why for instance, have 100 farmers not signed up?" <br /><br /><b>Because not all farmers think badger culling is a good idea!</b>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post-16085906522557945542010-05-05T09:02:07.999+01:002010-05-05T09:02:07.999+01:00Thanks for your comments, both Anons. on the Welsh...Thanks for your comments, both Anons. on the Welsh pilot area.<br /><br />From a cattle farmer's point of view, if your herd is already under restriction with a confirmed breakdown, we suspect you would see little difference.<br />If, however, you experience an unconfirmed breakdown in Wales, which then takes 4 months instead of two to de-strict you, then that is a significant change to your ability to trade. As is six monthly testing, all of which is hassle, and sometimes difficult with cattle not in convenient places with testing facilities readily available.<br /><br />The 'immediate suspension' of SOA for example, would have implications for temporary grass keep etc., and farms which rear one class of animal away from the main holding. More preMT and cost. From what we read, for farmers with a single holding and already under restriction, there would be no change at all.<br /><br />Just musing out loud, we realise that these extra cattle measures were brought in to 'close the circle' at the same time (or actually ahead of) a pilot badger cull. But by doing the two things parallel, we suspect that questions will be raised, should there be a drop in TB incidence, what was the cause of it?<br /><br />We also are aware from past experience of the English RBCT that the co-operation of farmers in any Animal Health initiative is vital. <br /><br />Why for instance, have 100 farmers not signed up? Do they mistrust the culling protocol as 'inadequate'? <br />Are they already on the receiving end of intimidation from animal rights activists on the one hand, and the Welsh Assembly's 'right of entry' stick on the other? Caught in the middle of scrap which they cannot win?<br /><br />More information is welcome. Three of us have been there before, trying to farm within RBCT areas.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09293505337441558637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post-68175666020174385392010-05-04T22:25:54.497+01:002010-05-04T22:25:54.497+01:00I have a friend who is a cattle owner in the cull ...I have a friend who is a cattle owner in the cull area and he says that in fact there are very few new controls and/or restrictions for cattle movement - and that the biosecurity measures are all advisory and voluntary only. So much for "strict new cattle measures" and attacking the disease on all fronts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885842.post-41716799416661807852010-05-02T13:49:37.159+01:002010-05-02T13:49:37.159+01:00From Saturday (1 May), the cattle farms in the Int...From Saturday (1 May), the cattle farms in the Intensive Pilot Action Area in parts of north Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire will be tested for TB every six months and cattle movements into and out of this area will only be allowed with strict pre-movement testing.<br /><br />But there is still no indication of when the first badgers in this 288sq/km will be trapped and killed and what numbers are involved.<br /><br />About 100 farmers within Wales' badger cull zone are refusing to allow Welsh Assembly officials on to their land just days before the first badgers are likely to be trapped.<br /><br />It is not known whether any of the 350 cattle farmers within the cull area are among the reluctant landowners but what is clear is that the size of the 1500 holdings vary significantly, from large-scale to very small farms.<br /><br />A spokesman for the assembly government said it had the legal power to force entry if necessary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com