Badger Cull

alex · Post by **alex** » 15 Sep 2013, 18:15

I'm in the "pioneering" area of the badger cull.

We have the misfortune of an idiot of an MP in this area, and if you want to have proof, look at this link in the BRIDGWATER MERCURY The comments following the article sum it up nicely.

Alex

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 17 Sep 2013, 20:37

It's already a problem if the TB the cattle have is multiple antiobiotic resistant.

Badgers are ugly b@stards. Top them I say.

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 17 Sep 2013, 20:42

emordnilap wrote:Maybe all the money pumped into cattle herders should be pumped instead into 'growing' meat to satisfy those with a craving for it. Persecution of other species is never justifiable but this would give one less opportunity to do so.

I guess the main difference between us and other top predators is that we have a choice what to eat and do not need to kill animals to eat.

I personally don't care what people eat but on the other hand I do fervently support the lab growing of meat (and vegetables "meat" too if possible) because it makes the food supply less vulnerable (and hopefully cheaper).

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 17 Sep 2013, 21:31

I wonder if it will make supply less vulnerable? I guess it might be a highly specialised, capital intensive, business conducted in large units at a small number of locations. That sort of production distribution is probably more vulnerable to black swan events than a wide-scale distribution of small sources. Eggs in one basket?

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 17 Sep 2013, 22:44

fifthcolumn wrote:It's already a problem if the TB the cattle have is multiple antiobiotic resistant.

Badgers are ugly b@stards. Top them I say.

Same applies to beavers then. Then again now that wolves are controlling the elk, the beaver has beneficially changed biodiversity in Yellowstone. So what's bad about ugly?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 18 Sep 2013, 07:29

I like beavers. We should have them in Britain.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 18 Sep 2013, 07:54

We should have wolves too.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 18 Sep 2013, 10:11

In my area the badgers are effectively culled by cars.

Dead one on the cycle lane this morning.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 18 Sep 2013, 10:49

If opinions are offered, then the ugliest creature on this planet is the human.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 18 Sep 2013, 11:30

Possibly

But then again maybe not

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 18 Sep 2013, 11:40

OK, they're both interesting. Maybe I'm harsh on the human species. I suppose they're no better and no worse looking than any other species.

But how anyone can imagine these

as ugly is beyond me. I suppose it depends upon the exact usage of ugly at the time. The human, especially the second syllable, does the ugliest deeds.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 18 Sep 2013, 11:46

Exactly

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 18 Sep 2013, 15:23

Most animals are beautiful but that doesn't stop me shooting any fox which has a go at my chickens, any deer that raids my vegetable garden and if it were legal any badger which came into contact with my cattle. If the fox and deer keeps away from my food I will not harm it but any deer that I see at the moment I will shoot as they are carrying TB to my cattle. The same should be legal with the over populated badgers.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 18 Sep 2013, 15:55

Ken, I've always had this notion that if you did that, then logically I'd be entitled to shoot any cattle, horses or donkeys which get into my garden and ruin it.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 18 Sep 2013, 18:26

emordnilap wrote:Ken, I've always had this notion that if you did that, then logically I'd be entitled to shoot any cattle, horses or donkeys which get into my garden and ruin it.

In law, in the UK, you can detain the animals until recompense is paid for the damage but you would be in trouble if you killed them, not least from the RSPCA!! The law sees a difference between farmed and domestic animals and wild animals. Logical?