There are around a quarter of a million badgers in 80,000 family groups in the UK.
There are ten times as many damned cattle being farmed for profit, living in general a lousy and curtailed existence.
The UK Government will announce on Monday that it's abandoned plans to cull badgers in order to protect cattle from catching Tuberculosis.
40,000 cattle are killed under government instructions each year for testing TB positive.
The BBC reported that this might cost the taxpayer as much as £1 billion.
That's £25,000 a cow? Don't be so stupid, there's few cows on the planet worth so much as a thousand quid.
The idea of taking out badger setts and destroying entire badger family units just to add to the obscenely high profits of the UK's landowners at the expense of yet more dead cows afterwards is sickening. If a farm ever has TB on it then close the bastards down for all time, let them grow turnips instead. Enough with the killing already and more than enough with the fat cat compensation.
Badgers
Badgers
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Badgers
Well this surely is something that is unneeded...
Hopefully everything gets worked out...
Although some of the alternatives appear to be a bit irrelevant to some...
"Their own advisers have put out a report saying a cull could be counter-productive or have limited effects," she told the BBC News website, "and still it's being put forward as an option."
It concluded that culling could be effective if run intensively over large areas; but a less intensive or scattered operation could increase disease spread.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4783368.stm
Hopefully everything gets worked out...
Although some of the alternatives appear to be a bit irrelevant to some...
"Their own advisers have put out a report saying a cull could be counter-productive or have limited effects," she told the BBC News website, "and still it's being put forward as an option."
It concluded that culling could be effective if run intensively over large areas; but a less intensive or scattered operation could increase disease spread.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4783368.stm
Badgers
Sure, its nice for the lovely badgers, I'm glad I'm not a farmer in Britain trying to run a livestock business though. You people are not very sensible really. Too many disney books about poo bear I think. Still its Gordon Brown's government so it must be a good decision. 
I would agree that the intensive farming methods being used in countries like Britain the US and Holland are unsustainable though, as is our love affair with the sort of food it produces, but don't worry, because the massively rising cost of inputs like fuel and cattle feed is going to kill that entire economic model stone dead. No matter how many people come out and protest on the streets.
I would agree that the intensive farming methods being used in countries like Britain the US and Holland are unsustainable though, as is our love affair with the sort of food it produces, but don't worry, because the massively rising cost of inputs like fuel and cattle feed is going to kill that entire economic model stone dead. No matter how many people come out and protest on the streets.
"We are never so happy, never so unhappy, as we imagine"
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Badgers
Galbally;907111 wrote: Sure, its nice for the lovely badgers, I'm glad I'm not a farmer in Britain trying to run a livestock business though. You people are not very sensible really. Too many disney books about poo bear I think. Still its Gordon Brown's government so it must be a good decision.
I would agree that the intensive farming methods being used in countries like Britain the US and Holland are unsustainable though, as is our love affair with the sort of food it produces, but don't worry, because the massively rising cost of inputs like fuel and cattle feed is going to kill that entire economic model stone dead. No matter how many people come out and protest on the streets.
There are ten times as many damned cattle being farmed for profit, living in general a lousy and curtailed existence and that's just the dairy herd, I've not even counted in the beef. You think that's inaccurate in any respect, do you? I don't, I'd appreciate a reason if you disagree. I prefer to enable quality of life among animals, not sheer weight. That's why the badgers get my vote, not because I think they're cute but because I think they live a more satisfying life.
I'm glad I'm not I'm a farmer in Britain trying to run a livestock business too, I can think of few things I'd prefer not to be. Eww farmers. Disgusting fat-of-the-land smug gits with rangerovers and quacky county set wives. Farmers aren't what they were a hundred years ago, you know. They're more industrial, they have in general industrial-sized farms. Subsistence farmers with their own land are a different matter entirely and they farm so small a proportion of England now that they might as well not exist.
I would agree that the intensive farming methods being used in countries like Britain the US and Holland are unsustainable though, as is our love affair with the sort of food it produces, but don't worry, because the massively rising cost of inputs like fuel and cattle feed is going to kill that entire economic model stone dead. No matter how many people come out and protest on the streets.
There are ten times as many damned cattle being farmed for profit, living in general a lousy and curtailed existence and that's just the dairy herd, I've not even counted in the beef. You think that's inaccurate in any respect, do you? I don't, I'd appreciate a reason if you disagree. I prefer to enable quality of life among animals, not sheer weight. That's why the badgers get my vote, not because I think they're cute but because I think they live a more satisfying life.
I'm glad I'm not I'm a farmer in Britain trying to run a livestock business too, I can think of few things I'd prefer not to be. Eww farmers. Disgusting fat-of-the-land smug gits with rangerovers and quacky county set wives. Farmers aren't what they were a hundred years ago, you know. They're more industrial, they have in general industrial-sized farms. Subsistence farmers with their own land are a different matter entirely and they farm so small a proportion of England now that they might as well not exist.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Badgers
spot;907119 wrote: There are ten times as many damned cattle being farmed for profit, living in general a lousy and curtailed existence and that's just the dairy herd, I've not even counted in the beef. You think that's inaccurate in any respect, do you? I don't, I'd appreciate a reason if you disagree. I prefer to enable quality of life among animals, not sheer weight. That's why the badgers get my vote, not because I think they're cute but because I think they live a more satisfying life.
I'm glad I'm not I'm a farmer in Britain trying to run a livestock business too, I can think of few things I'd prefer not to be. Eww farmers. Disgusting fat-of-the-land smug gits with rangerovers and quacky county set wives. Farmers aren't what they were a hundred years ago, you know. They're more industrial, they have in general industrial-sized farms. Subsistence farmers with their own land are a different matter entirely and they farm so small a proportion of England now that they might as well not exist.
Sure, but you like eating food don't you? If your a vegetarian I can respect that, thats cool, but some people like meat. The general problem is that in industrialized countries people have very little idea how they are actually kept fed, how the petrol ends up in the garage, and how the lights are kept on, and then develop this bizarre ideas based on some piece they saw on their TV in their concrete house, in the concrete jungle they live in. If you wanted to really give animals a better time in England you could start by getting rid of the massive conurbation that most of southern England has become in which people have developed a lifestyle that is about as far removed from reality as you can imagine.
The real reason why so many animals live in misery and pain are the supposedly "civilized" city people whose voracious appetites for basically everything means that industrialized farming is a highly lucrative business. Seeing that about 70 percent of the population is urban now, everyone turns a blind eye to the daily holocaust of animals that goes on, because its inconvinient to point out that its the plastic throwaway culture (that they in general buy into) that is at the root of most of these problems.
To salve their consciounce, the clever urban set loudly condemn toffs on horses chasing the odd fox, farmers for daring to treat animals as property (which is what they are if you are a farmer), and terrible truck drivers for driving the poor little calves in big horrible trucks to some undisclosed destination. But never questioning themselves about the enormous amount of brightly packaged, processed, supply of food they buy in their "out of town" superstore for their console-playing braindead brats, (whose experience of what the land is like without concrete on it, is based on visits to safari parks).
I'm not making any moral judgments about the lifestyle of typical cows or badgers, just that people prefer eating cows to badgers, which is why there are more cows. Grew up in a city or a town I am betting spot?
I'm glad I'm not I'm a farmer in Britain trying to run a livestock business too, I can think of few things I'd prefer not to be. Eww farmers. Disgusting fat-of-the-land smug gits with rangerovers and quacky county set wives. Farmers aren't what they were a hundred years ago, you know. They're more industrial, they have in general industrial-sized farms. Subsistence farmers with their own land are a different matter entirely and they farm so small a proportion of England now that they might as well not exist.
Sure, but you like eating food don't you? If your a vegetarian I can respect that, thats cool, but some people like meat. The general problem is that in industrialized countries people have very little idea how they are actually kept fed, how the petrol ends up in the garage, and how the lights are kept on, and then develop this bizarre ideas based on some piece they saw on their TV in their concrete house, in the concrete jungle they live in. If you wanted to really give animals a better time in England you could start by getting rid of the massive conurbation that most of southern England has become in which people have developed a lifestyle that is about as far removed from reality as you can imagine.
The real reason why so many animals live in misery and pain are the supposedly "civilized" city people whose voracious appetites for basically everything means that industrialized farming is a highly lucrative business. Seeing that about 70 percent of the population is urban now, everyone turns a blind eye to the daily holocaust of animals that goes on, because its inconvinient to point out that its the plastic throwaway culture (that they in general buy into) that is at the root of most of these problems.
To salve their consciounce, the clever urban set loudly condemn toffs on horses chasing the odd fox, farmers for daring to treat animals as property (which is what they are if you are a farmer), and terrible truck drivers for driving the poor little calves in big horrible trucks to some undisclosed destination. But never questioning themselves about the enormous amount of brightly packaged, processed, supply of food they buy in their "out of town" superstore for their console-playing braindead brats, (whose experience of what the land is like without concrete on it, is based on visits to safari parks).
I'm not making any moral judgments about the lifestyle of typical cows or badgers, just that people prefer eating cows to badgers, which is why there are more cows. Grew up in a city or a town I am betting spot?
"We are never so happy, never so unhappy, as we imagine"
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Badgers
My family is stepped in farming history...They've owned a farm but hardly "industrialized"...
My grandfather drove a truck between farms before he had taken his own initiative...
I just don't really think that the majority of people know what these cattle or animals are being fed...Minced up dead animals without bias was many of the loads my grandfather transported to many farms...Cows eating other cows...It's a disturbing thought...
My grandfather drove a truck between farms before he had taken his own initiative...
I just don't really think that the majority of people know what these cattle or animals are being fed...Minced up dead animals without bias was many of the loads my grandfather transported to many farms...Cows eating other cows...It's a disturbing thought...
Badgers
Galbally;907650 wrote: I'm not making any moral judgments about the lifestyle of typical cows or badgers, just that people prefer eating cows to badgers, which is why there are more cows. Grew up in a city or a town I am betting spot?
You might address these questions to people who qualify for the abuse. No, I lived on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, then the edge of a Lancashire moor and a footpath across Leicestershire and... ah. Islington. But I'm not there any longer, I'm alongside the Downs by the Avon, I'm as rustic as one can get. I've not bought so much as an ounce of meat in the last twelve months either. My food bill averages three euros a week.
You might address these questions to people who qualify for the abuse. No, I lived on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, then the edge of a Lancashire moor and a footpath across Leicestershire and... ah. Islington. But I'm not there any longer, I'm alongside the Downs by the Avon, I'm as rustic as one can get. I've not bought so much as an ounce of meat in the last twelve months either. My food bill averages three euros a week.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Badgers
spot;907659 wrote: You might address these questions to people who qualify for the abuse. No, I lived on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, then the edge of a Lancashire moor and a footpath across Leicestershire and... ah. Islington. But I'm not there any longer, I'm alongside the Downs by the Avon, I'm as rustic as one can get. I've not bought so much as an ounce of meat in the last twelve months either. My food bill averages three euros a week.
Well in that case I salute you. Are you off meat for the year, or is this a lifelong thing? You do know what I am talking about in terms of the urbanite attitude to the food chain?
Well in that case I salute you. Are you off meat for the year, or is this a lifelong thing? You do know what I am talking about in terms of the urbanite attitude to the food chain?
"We are never so happy, never so unhappy, as we imagine"
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Badgers
My guess is, if you want to keep badger numbers at their current high level, get Jamie Oliver to invent some fancy dish made out of badgers, then you will see an explosion of badgers to feed the ever more sophisticated tastes of the fashionable urbanati.
"We are never so happy, never so unhappy, as we imagine"
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Badgers
Galbally;907794 wrote: Well in that case I salute you. Are you off meat for the year, or is this a lifelong thing? You do know what I am talking about in terms of the urbanite attitude to the food chain?
Galbally;907804 wrote: My guess is, if you want to keep badger numbers at their current high level, get Jamie Oliver to invent some fancy dish made out of badgers, then you will see an explosion of badgers to feed the ever more sophisticated tastes of the fashionable urbanati.
I've no interest in maintaining the current high levels of the badger population, I just object to entire setts being destroyed as a cost-cutting measure which has nothing to do with the badgers and everything to do with incompetent farming practices. I'd keep the badger population controlled by re-introducing the bear and wolf to the English countryside and making it a requirement that farmers leave their sheep out at nights until the new arrivals have become properly established.
I might eat meat if I catch any. I'm not going to eat anything that's been domesticated or bred for slaughter. The urbanites will be the first against the wall when the revolution happens.
Galbally;907804 wrote: My guess is, if you want to keep badger numbers at their current high level, get Jamie Oliver to invent some fancy dish made out of badgers, then you will see an explosion of badgers to feed the ever more sophisticated tastes of the fashionable urbanati.
I've no interest in maintaining the current high levels of the badger population, I just object to entire setts being destroyed as a cost-cutting measure which has nothing to do with the badgers and everything to do with incompetent farming practices. I'd keep the badger population controlled by re-introducing the bear and wolf to the English countryside and making it a requirement that farmers leave their sheep out at nights until the new arrivals have become properly established.
I might eat meat if I catch any. I'm not going to eat anything that's been domesticated or bred for slaughter. The urbanites will be the first against the wall when the revolution happens.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Badgers
spot;907858 wrote: I've no interest in maintaining the current high levels of the badger population, I just object to entire setts being destroyed as a cost-cutting measure which has nothing to do with the badgers and everything to do with incompetent farming practices. I'd keep the badger population controlled by re-introducing the bear and wolf to the English countryside and making it a requirement that farmers leave their sheep out at nights until the new arrivals have become properly established.
I might eat meat if I catch any. I'm not going to eat anything that's been domesticated or bred for slaughter. The urbanites will be the first against the wall when the revolution happens.
You see, this is why I like you, reintroducing bears and wolves to the wilder parts of Britain is actually a brilliant idea, at least in theory it is. I for one would pay very good money to come over and watch Chavs being released into the bear areas, while the wolves could be used to deal with street gangs.
I would like to see similar measures brought into Ireland, particularly in West Dublin. As for the sheep, I hate sheep, but you would have to compensate the lads for their sheep, as sheep are expensive enough yolks.
I also am in agreement with your sentiments about badgers, as like most people I am fond of the buggers, but within reason, and yes we are mostly engaged in very bad farming practices based on maintaining maximum productivity not sustainability, though I blame consumers as much as farmers for the economics of insanity that we have at present. Don't worry though, as $250-a-barrel oil will do for all of that nonsense.
I might eat meat if I catch any. I'm not going to eat anything that's been domesticated or bred for slaughter. The urbanites will be the first against the wall when the revolution happens.
You see, this is why I like you, reintroducing bears and wolves to the wilder parts of Britain is actually a brilliant idea, at least in theory it is. I for one would pay very good money to come over and watch Chavs being released into the bear areas, while the wolves could be used to deal with street gangs.
I would like to see similar measures brought into Ireland, particularly in West Dublin. As for the sheep, I hate sheep, but you would have to compensate the lads for their sheep, as sheep are expensive enough yolks.
I also am in agreement with your sentiments about badgers, as like most people I am fond of the buggers, but within reason, and yes we are mostly engaged in very bad farming practices based on maintaining maximum productivity not sustainability, though I blame consumers as much as farmers for the economics of insanity that we have at present. Don't worry though, as $250-a-barrel oil will do for all of that nonsense.
"We are never so happy, never so unhappy, as we imagine"
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.