Farm Diary by Gwyn Jones

THIS dreadful weather continues apace, and the forecast is for another wet week. It is warmer though, and growing conditions are almost tropical, with the maize shooting upwards, well ahead of where it usually is at this time of year.

We have never had so much grass! The grazing acreage is virtually unchanged since turnout, and the second cut of silage is going to be at least as many tonnes as the first cut. I don't really need a third cut this year, but many of the grass acres are not accessible for grazing and will surely grow back strongly. I must decide what to do in the next week or so.

The long awaited Independent Scientific Group (ISG) report on Bovine Tuberculosis has been published. Whilst its findings are interesting, its interpretation, conclusions and recommendations are being questioned by just about everyone.

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In a nutshell, the recommendations are that more movement restrictions and testing of cattle should be carried out; and no culling of badgers. In other words, although this is a disease of two species, only one of them should be tackled.

What we do know from the report is that local culling of badgers does spread the disease, as the animals disperse to other areas. What is not covered in the report is the fact that attempts at clearing areas of infected badgers was done by trapping, but for an average of only eight days per annum, and it was carried out at the least effective time of year, between November and January.

There was much activity by individuals who were against the trials, and 69% of the traps were interfered with or stolen!

For full story see West Sussex Gazette June 27

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