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dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

MAY 26, 2005 03:19 PM

A new study shows that transporting cattle is the biggest risk factor for bovine TB.

Many UK farmers hate badgers and have been calling for badger culls, so this study is a bit of good news.

Dr Elaine King, chief executive of the National Federation of Badger Groups, said [...] "After 30 years of blaming badgers for spreading [bovine TB], farmers and vets have to face up to the reality that farming itself is to blame for the massive escalation in the disease,"


This study won't stop farmers calling for culls. Dr Wint (co-author) even says:

"Our study certainly doesn't let badgers off the hook, but then it doesn't hang them up on a cross either."[...]

Dr Wint stressed that the Nature study said "nothing about the need for future badger interventions".

"Nor does it affect the conclusions of previous work on the involvement of badgers in TB transmission to cattle," he added.

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

MAY 26, 2005 03:47 PM

Why, exactly, are the farmers calling for badger culls? I assume it's something akin to prairie dogs in the US, in that prairie dogs (or badgers) dig holes, and the cattle step in the holes and break legs and such?

I've never understood how a cow can be dumb enough to step in a hole and break its leg. Aren't they always looking at the ground for grass? Wouldn't they see the holes?

waldo

waldo

I'm lost
June 2004

MAY 26, 2005 03:56 PM

The whole "badgers spread bovine TB" thing sounds like misdirection to me.
I have a nagging suspicion it's a control thing: "they damn badgers be digging holes in MOY LAAAND mad ".

The_Happy_Pig

The_Happy_Pig

United Kingdom
December 2004

MAY 26, 2005 03:57 PM

But no self respecting family of Badgers makes their sett anywhere near where other animals will wander.

[Edited on May 26, 2005 by the_happy_pig]

iamjacksusername

iamjacksusername

Los Angeles, CA
April 2005

MAY 26, 2005 03:57 PM



So tell me Badger; what's a little boy like you doing with big boy smut like this?


Dreamweaveruk

Dreamweaveruk

United Kingdom
October 2004

MAY 26, 2005 04:07 PM

Sick said:
Why, exactly, are the farmers calling for badger culls? I assume it's something akin to prairie dogs in the US, in that prairie dogs (or badgers) dig holes, and the cattle step in the holes and break legs and such?

I've never understood how a cow can be dumb enough to step in a hole and break its leg. Aren't they always looking at the ground for grass? Wouldn't they see the holes?



That's right. The cows catch TB from falling in holes made by badgers.

Unfortunately for cows, they are very short-sighted, and cannot actually see the ground. This also explains why cows are not raced.

[Edited on May 27, 2005 12:20AM]

YUSHi

YUSHi

United Kingdom
May 2004

MAY 26, 2005 04:21 PM

Dreamweaveruk said:

Unfortunately for cows, they are very short-sighted, and cannot actually see the ground. This also explains why cows are not raced.



I doubt that is the case... i mean, then you walk by a field they do look at you and watch you walk by from quite a distance, also if this where the case then sheep dogs would be useless too as they rely on the cows watching where the dog is and where it is moving to in order to control the herd. Not much good if the cow is so short sighted it can't even see the ground let alone anything else.

Dreamweaveruk

Dreamweaveruk

United Kingdom
October 2004

MAY 26, 2005 04:30 PM

YUSHi said:

Dreamweaveruk said:

Unfortunately for cows, they are very short-sighted, and cannot actually see the ground. This also explains why cows are not raced.



I doubt that is the case... i mean, then you walk by a field they do look at you and watch you walk by from quite a distance,



That's actually an optical illusion... like when the eyes on a painting seem to follow you around the room.
Or maybe it's telepathy.
Mmm... telepathic cows.

ApostropheNow

ApostropheNow

Skull Valley, AZ
April 2004

MAY 26, 2005 04:34 PM

Is "Badger" a British euphemism of some kind?

I see some folks from the UK using that word in inexplicable ways and I still don't get it.

Cassiel

Cassiel

Aurora, CO
September 2004

MAY 26, 2005 04:41 PM

:pokes a badger with a spoon:

Carmady

Carmady

United Kingdom
January 2005

MAY 26, 2005 04:46 PM

Couldn't you just lure them out with mashed potato?

Isn't the reason that cows are not raced in fact that they are big heffing heifers not built to move much? (And so are targets for tipping?)

waldo

waldo

I'm lost
June 2004

MAY 26, 2005 05:01 PM

ApostropheNow said:
Is "Badger" a British euphemism of some kind?

I see some folks from the UK using that word in inexplicable ways and I still don't get it.



"Badger", so far as I know, means this animal, or sometimes means "nag, pursue, harass until the victim gives in".

Frantic

Frantic

United Kingdom
May 2005

MAY 26, 2005 05:40 PM

Cassiel said:
:pokes a badger with a spoon:



take 2 hell marys and 3 hello dolly's

swingkitten

swingkitten

Portland, OR
OLD SKOOL

MAY 26, 2005 05:44 PM

*sigh*

MUSHROOM, MUSHROOM!

freshprncebelair

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD
June 2004

MAY 26, 2005 06:57 PM

YUSHi said:

Dreamweaveruk said:

Unfortunately for cows, they are very short-sighted, and cannot actually see the ground. This also explains why cows are not raced.



I doubt that is the case... i mean, then you walk by a field they do look at you and watch you walk by from quite a distance, also if this where the case then sheep dogs would be useless too as they rely on the cows watching where the dog is and where it is moving to in order to control the herd. Not much good if the cow is so short sighted it can't even see the ground let alone anything else.





But the question is: Do cows know where their hind legs are in relation to everything else? And can they even see where their legs touch the ground?

Those would be other possible explanations

PatrickY

PatrickY

Vancouver, WA
December 2003

MAY 26, 2005 07:02 PM

I read that as "UK farmers are calling for badger cults", and I thought that was maybe the best idea I'd heard all week.

Reality dissappoints once again.

thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

MAY 26, 2005 08:02 PM

swingkitten said:
*sigh*

MUSHROOM, MUSHROOM!



SNAAAKE! A SNAAAKE! OH, IT'S A SNAAKE!

-TM

SurfBetty

SurfBetty

Atlantic Beach, FL
December 2003

MAY 26, 2005 08:05 PM

on an unrelated note,Azrael_Abyss is a vag badger.

Tekky

Tekky

SUICIDEGIRL

Ontario, Canada

MAY 26, 2005 08:17 PM

we don't need no stinking badgers!!!

PatrickY

PatrickY

Vancouver, WA
December 2003

MAY 26, 2005 08:21 PM

Tekky said:
we don't need no stinking badgers!!!



Now that's a kickass reference.

Nice work.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

MAY 27, 2005 03:53 AM

Sick said:
Why, exactly, are the farmers calling for badger culls?


Many UK farmers are convinced that badgers spread TB. It's illegal to kill badgers (I think, I need to check that) but this doesn't stop many farmers from doing so. Some parts of the countryside you even see badgers nailed to poles. frown frown puke mad

Tobey_McQuim

Tobey_McQuim

United Kingdom
April 2004

MAY 27, 2005 12:25 PM

yes it is in fact illegal .. badgers are a protected species .. along with otters and .. oh loads of other shit .

I work in civil engineering and we have to go to extra-ordinary lengths to move badger setts and provide tunnel crossing points when we build a new road .. its quite cool really!

yes .. but also frightfully boring.. I know

my point .. did I have a point? erm .. yeah why go to all this bother if we are just goingto kill the vicious little bastards anyways? There is absolutely no scientific proof that they are responsible for the TB thing at all!?

Dicey

dicey

United Kingdom
February 2005

MAY 27, 2005 12:47 PM

Perhaps everyone needs to attend...

A Badger Awareness day! biggrin

Nic

Nic

SUICIDEGIRL

United Kingdom

MAY 30, 2005 01:52 PM


This study won't stop farmers calling for culls. Dr Wint (co-author) even says:



Dr WINT???

You're just making this up now.

Clunk

Clunk

I'm lost
August 2004

MAY 30, 2005 02:34 PM

demetrius_z said:

Sick said:
Why, exactly, are the farmers calling for badger culls?


Many UK farmers are convinced that badgers spread TB. It's illegal to kill badgers (I think, I need to check that) but this doesn't stop many farmers from doing so. Some parts of the countryside you even see badgers nailed to poles. frown frown puke mad



DEFRA do still set badger traps and such in the name of "research", although the link between badgers and bovine TB was discredited some time ago. But they're a Government agency and can do what the fuck they want, apparently. mad

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