tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6593565576776346728.post328648282781806970..comments2023-10-30T11:19:49.247+01:00Comments on Forest of Dean Wildlife & Nature Diary: bTB - Badgers and the Cull!Rob Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14909011703506732320noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6593565576776346728.post-59388844027153394572012-02-26T23:10:28.533+01:002012-02-26T23:10:28.533+01:00It is going to be a tough one Brian, even if they ...It is going to be a tough one Brian, even if they agreed to the vaccination trial. <br />This disease is dibilitating and for sure it has to be done as I hate seeing any animal suffer, wild or domestic.<br />However, if the vaccine has the same success rate, or better when compared to culling then surely the most humane way of tackling this disease is vaccination.<br />I have every sympathy with the farmers who watch as their cattle develop this disease and are then consequently destroyed as a result, but like you said, farming practices have to be improved if we are to get on top of it.Rob Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14909011703506732320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6593565576776346728.post-73240358324939884342012-02-26T21:37:29.630+01:002012-02-26T21:37:29.630+01:00It's a classic 'we have to do something si...It's a classic 'we have to do something situation', even if that something isn't likely to make a meaningful difference. That said TB is actually a very complex disease and I'm not convinced a vaccine will be an answer either. We've had a human TB vaccine (BCG as well) for years. It's good at stopping young children getting TB meningitis, but in adults it is less effective against the classical lung disease, at best in the UK being 60-70% protective (although that is still a lot more than the 16% difference the cull is suggested to make). And in some parts of the world the presence of similar, but non-TB, bugs may paradoxically even increase the problems from the disease in vaccinated people. So I find it hard to assume the bovine vaccine will be any better. The answer has to lie in farming practices, not killing badgers.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com