Badger cull announcement due as speculation grows over Government U-turn
Speculation is growing that the proposed badger cull for parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire will be delayed until 2013.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is due to make a statement to Parliament on the pilot culls at 12.30pm today.
-
Under the controversial plans, up to 100,000 badgers could be shot as the Government bids to reduce levels of bovine TB.
An e-petition against the cull, created by Queen guitarist Brian May, has attracted more than 160,000 signatures.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
The Guardian is today reporting that the badger cull pilot will be delayed until next year at the earliest.
Rumours of a possible Government U-turn were rife late last week when Mr Paterson cancelled a series of media interviews.
There was speculation that the estimated number of badgers in the cull zones was higher than had been thought, which would increase costs as at least 70 per cent of the badgers in each one must be slaughtered.
There are now an estimated 4,300 badgers in the West Somerset area, up from earlier calculations of 3,000.
Comments
by Charlespk
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 9:58AM
“It would be greatly appreciated by all farmers if people would try to become educated to the problem before they make any emotional judgement or comment.
Why BCG does not perform like other Vaccines.
"In any normal infection the body defence works by production of vast amounts of antibodies. Such antibodies can also be stimulated by ordinary vaccines for all kinds of bacteria and virus diseases and they can be traced in blood which makes diagnosis with various techniques fairly easy.
But this does not work for Tuberculosis - it never did and it never will do - because the tubercle bacteria have a waxy coat to which antibodies cannot attach. Tuberculosis therefore causes a so called humoral body defence; that means the very slowly multiplying bacteria are attacked by enzymes and white blood cells mainly. These are killing or even digesting the bacteria by a method called phagocytosis resulting in crumbly pus in the so called tubercles - whole heaps or lumps containing several 1000 to billions of bacteria.
This defence is much more unspecific and slower than the usual one by antibodies.
Any BCG vaccine stimulates this humoral defence only but never prevents an infection; it may keep it on a low scale maybe. There is no other vaccine available and there most probably will never be another one.
No matter how many millions more DEFRA invests (I hear of some 30 so far for the Vaccine only) this is nature - which cannot be forced by politics."
. . . . . . . . . . Dr Ueli Zellweger MRCVS GST TVL Somerset
Dr Ueli Zellweger who is highly respected is a veterinary surgeon with over 30 years experience mainly with cattle and is considered a world expert in this field.
Again quote:- "But this does not work for Tuberculosis - it never did and it never will do."
"But this does not work for Tuberculosis - it never did and it never will do."
"But this does not work for Tuberculosis - it never did and it never will do."”
by Clued-Up
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 10:11PM
“Enormous relief ...”
by reactiv8
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 5:35PM
“Praise be !!! Another U-turn from the Bullingdon Bullies (although they are afraid to admit it) - Happy Dance etc ...
BTW - No stoopid comments from the usual trolls yet I see!”
by Hareymary
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 3:19PM
“Apparently it is getting dark too early and colder that's why its been delayed, who would have thought it would get darker and colder at this time of year. I'd never have guessed.”