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David B
24 Mar 2009, 11:56 PM
There are problems with bovine TB in Britain at the moment, and there are controversial plans to cull badgers to try to deal with it.

It's getting a bit close to home.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7961770.stm

Anyone know if a badger cull is likely to be effective, and what the likely effects of taking badgers out of a local ecosystem might have on the rest of it?

Emotionally, I don't want to see a badger cull.

Intellectually, I don't know whether it is a good idea or not.

Any ideas?

David
DMB
25 Mar 2009, 12:13 AM
The farmers always blame the badgers. This argument has been going on for decades.

Have you read this report (http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/documents/publications/2004/GodfreyReport_BovineTBEpidemiology.pdf)?
David B
25 Mar 2009, 12:18 AM
The farmers always blame the badgers. This argument has been going on for decades.

Have you read this report (http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/documents/publications/2004/GodfreyReport_BovineTBEpidemiology.pdf)?

No, but I will do.

Not today or tomorrow, though. I have an early start and a long day tomorrow.

David
Mung Dynasty
25 Mar 2009, 01:36 AM
tl;dr version: there is not enough evidence to clearly state that badger culling would improve the health of cattle.
epepke
03 Apr 2009, 06:47 AM
We don't need no steenking badgers.