Ramble

[cheekbones3]

Particularly surprising recently was the Government's decision to go with actual scientific advice with regard to culling badgers to control bovine TB.

The independent study on the area originally recommended that a cull would not be effective, a couple of possible reasons being that badgers would extend their ranges if populations were reduced, therefore spreading TB further, and that there's no actual proven link between badgers and TB outbreaks in cattle.

Then came (I missed the reason why) the Government expert that recommended the opposite, and I fully expected them to go with this advice, assuming it was the usual "scientific" advice handily organised when the independent advice wasn't in line with desired policy. But actually, they've gone with the original advice saying that a cull was unjustified, which it does indeed appear to be.

Maybe, sometimes the right decision occurs? I wonder what caused that. Maybe the whinging farmers are losing political clout?

Comments

[faerycake.livejournal.com]

I was talking about this recently too... it was a pleasant surprise that they actually went with the independent findings instead of folklore!

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's just a blip!

[likeneontubing.livejournal.com]

until the tories get in anyway!

[kynon.livejournal.com]

Must be a fuck-up - everyone else in government (and frequently in the "Justice" system seems to ignore things like science, evidence, and expert opinion.

[dryriser.livejournal.com]

I suspect the reason (albeit misguided) for any scientist to support a cull is linked to this, from a vet friend of mine:

"Badgers do not spread TB, they did not have it originally BUT they can catch it off infected cows. As such, they act a a reservoir for the infection where it has previously existed and will continue to re-infect livestock placed in proximity to them.

Badgers therefore don't spread TB, they merely protract its presence where it already exists. Farmers spread TB by moving cattle which might have it all over the country in lorries.

We don't vaccinate largely because the vaccine is shit and there is no easy way of differentiating between an animal which has been vaccinated from one which has TB.

Oh, and the test for TB is also shit. It is inaccurate, not very sensetive and gives a high proportion of false positives and false negatives. There is no really good way to find out definatively if an animal has TB (without killing it), if there was, we would have it erradicated by now."

So basically, badgers store the bacteria and can re-infect a cleansed herd, plus it's bloody hard to detect. Of course, what never gets mentioned is that it's highly more likely that it's deer passing TB on than any other animal or that the badgers wouldn't be infected in the first place if farmers hadn't moved diseased cattle in...

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Aye, poor badgers get all the blame when it's the usual problems that only exist due to intensive agriculture.

[hardcore-pixee.livejournal.com]

As long as the badgers are okay!

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

For the moment it seems :o)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_ladyp_/]

You look like a lady who can advise about things of the snakey variety... :)

How difficult are royals to keep as opposed to corns (assuming that is your royal in that piccie)? I keep getting completely conflicting advice from "pain in the arse to feed and dont like being handled when young" to "no problem as long as they are captive bred"

[hardcore-pixee.livejournal.com]

Indeed I can! I have both a corn and a royal. Personally I prefer my royal, he's just great. My corn is a lot faster and likes to try and escape whereas my royal is the most docile, friendly snake I've eveer met. I wasn't planning on buying him when I did, but I was asked if I wanted to hold him and he was great.
My corn is a slightly better feeder, but I think it's because my royal is just really stupid. He does eat perfectly well, but I need to wriggle a mouse at him so he realises he's meant to eat it.
I think in general royals are better to handle and are known to be really good. The best thing to do is hold a few different ones and choose the calmest. Mine is still a baby but he just sits and behaves so well. Everyone loves him when they meet him.
I hope that helps!