Farming methods defended
I can say that I am concerned about animal welfare because for all my life I have practised it – not just preached about it like Ms Allison ("Farming's dubious legacy", Mailbox, December 18).
I am well aware of all sorts of campaigns being waged about the subject, usually by people who are long on theory and short on actual practical experience. They use exaggerated and emotive language in the hope of catching media attention.
The claim that culling badgers will spread TB and increase its incidence only refers to culling in selective areas and the subsequent recolonisation of those areas from outside.
I am talking about a general and widespread reduction in numbers, down to a badger population of the countryside more like that of the 1950s through to the 1970s.
Again, Ms Allison seems not to consider the loss of thousands of head of valuable and productive cattle a matter worthy of any consideration.
If Compassion in World Farming and the World Society for the Protection of Animals are fighting a great, "science-based campaign" against mega-dairies then they are very unsuccessful as, already, they exist in large numbers in the USA, as do mega-beef lots.
The standard of husbandry required to operate such units is high and the comfort of the animals has a direct bearing on their productivity.
We may prefer to see them "home, home on the range" and they may look prettier but they don't produce the milk, the meat or the offspring in sufficient quantities to feed our present over-population of this earth.
Get rid of most of us and you won't need mega-lots!
Farm use of antibiotics has been as nothing compared with their misuse by doctors among the human population. This is especially so in hospitals, where their widespread abuse as a substitute for good, clinical aseptic practice has led to the rise of superbugs.
Sorry, Ms Allison, not even the existence of superbugs can be laid directly at farming's door. Zoonoses – diseases shared by animals and humans – have always existed.
The main factor in their worldwide spread today has nothing to do with modern farming methods and everything to do with primitive farming in the Third World, where people live in close proximity with their livestock and travellers in our shrunken world disseminate their diseases and parasites across continents in aeroplanes.
As I have said before, while we eat meat – and whatever the UN and Ms Allison says, more and more people are doing so because they can afford it – the animals must be treated with respect up to the end.
Whatever enforcement is necessary (including CCTV in abattoirs) to ensure their humane handling and despatch should be followed vigorously. Nothing else is good enough.
Wendy Warren, South Kilworth.
6 Comments
by Peter, Wigston
Thursday, December 30 2010, 12:22AM
“Wendy is suggesting a "general and widespread reduction in numbers" of badgers.
In other words wiping badgers out as completely as possible throughout the UK, at great cost to the public purse, merely because some people believe cows may catch bovine TB from badgers. But such a dreadful deed would still do nothing to prevent bovine TB.
First, a more accurate diagnostic test for bovine TB in cattle needs to be developed. The current test allows too many infected cows to be classified as TB free.
Second, cattle need to be tested more frequently so that infected cows do not slip the net for many months, spreading the highly infectious (cow to cow) disease to wherever they are bought and sold.
Thirdly both cows and badgers need to be vaccinated against bovine TB.
Perhaps Wendy Warren would enlighten us all with her definitive scientific evidence that cows definitely catch TB from badgers. But she will not, because there is no such definitive evidence.”
by karin, Oadby
Wednesday, December 29 2010, 12:07PM
“Wendy is obviously a fairly intelligent woman who is unfortunately attempting to blind us with science. To accept a cull of badgers versus 'valuable and productive' cattle is silly. One must assume the cattle are more important than the badgers, why then are the male calves removed from their mothers and frequently despatched in order that WE can consume what was milk intended for them? At least badgers live normal lives. As for holding up the USA's mega-dairies as something to aspire to, well, maybe we should also be envying their meat and dairy generated waistlines also? Hardly a good example to give. I would be interested to know Wendy's take on battery hens since she seems to think battery cows ok? The only part of the letter I agree with is CCTV in abattoirs which apparently is something Morrison's are requesting and they must be commended for that.”
by CGLee, near Melton
Wednesday, December 29 2010, 12:04PM
“A very sensible letter from Wendy Warren, who knows what she is talking about.
I cannot stand unnecessary cruelty of any kind, but I am a realist and I eat meat. We are omnivores and meat is a normal part of our diet. As long as the animals that we eat are treated humanely and with respect, I am completely relaxed about it.
I do, however, have reservations about the so called "super farms" in the USA, which seem likely to come here in the near future. Farm animals' natural habitat is in the open air, not cooped up in large sheds, no matter how well designed. I would rather pay a little extra for my meat and milk, knowing that the animals from which they come have had a reasonable quality of life before being sliced up on my dinner plate.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Wednesday, December 29 2010, 10:26AM
“@PB,
Sorry I should have added that, I think her heart is in the right place especially as she is 'Almost Vegan'.
Perhaps she should stop preaching and start educating herself, before educating others. There is a big difference between preaching and educating.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Wednesday, December 29 2010, 10:25AM
“@PB,
Harsh assessment on Ms Allison, but fair. If you Google sentences from her letters it shows what you say is true.”
by PB, Leicester
Wednesday, December 29 2010, 10:17AM
“Unfortunately Ms Allison¿s letters follow a very predictable format. As soon as she sees an article in the LM which remotely relates to animal welfare, public health or even the environment. She then scourers the internet on veggie advocacy sites for text she can cut and paste into a ¿letter¿. There is no research or even intelligence used. It¿s just an opportunity to stuff veggie propaganda down our throats with the most flimsy excuses.”