Farmers versus badgers

I opened up my newspaper on the train this morning to see a sombre looking farmer, one Maurice Durbin, in front of his herd of Guernsey cows on page 3. Below were Dame Judy Dench and Gemma Atkinson, both renowned badger experts. In the middle was a gamine-looking, furry badger.

Of course, this was about the contested badger cull that is ongoing in some parts of the UK. The debate has been revived because of a recent BBC television programme, “Land of Hope and Glory: British Country Life,” which was shown highlighting the plight of the farmer in trying to combat tuberculosis on his farm.

The Badgers Trust people were upset that they didn’t get a chance to rebut the fact that Mr Durbin is having to cull his animals over rampant TB.

I am still not sure why a badger outweighs a cow when we look at diseases such as TB in the countryside. Is it because a badger is kind of cuddly looking? Around 30,000 cows die because of TB each year, and around 4,000 badgers have been culled.

Now, I would prefer that none of these animals perish (and I don’t think anyone involved in anti-TB efforts does), but I do think culling can be used as part of a systemic plan to keep TB at bay. Sometimes the greater good has to be looked at.

I did think to myself, do any of these actresses have a degree in animal husbandry? Ditto Brian May.* And, will they contribute when the farmers lose their livelihood due to loss of cattle and the ability to sell their milk while they wait to be re-tested and cleared? Probably not.

* And that song, “Save the Badger Badger Badger” ranks up there with “Agadoo” by Black Lace, in my book. Dire.