Bovine TB

[kwicky]

The sacred bullock which was infected with TB has been put down. Are cows unable to recover from TB or is it because antibodies would be in its system?

[Goodsoulette]

there is NO accepted and tested cure for bovine tb in cattle. It's a shame but this is one cow from one temple, farmers can lose whole herds of cows that have been classified as reactors and then once slaughtered actually be found to be cleared, yet they are still subject to a 3 month ban on moving their livestock. Its only once an autopsy of sorts has been carried out that they can find out whether the animal hs actually got it ( I think).

I think the initial costs would be enormous in developing and tsting a cure/vaccine. They are trying out a vaccine for deer and badgers to try and prevent the spread of the disease.

For Shambo to not have been put down would have been a slap in the face to every cattle farmer in the country. I know a lot of farmers and not one of them has been uneffected by this disease. They are always very upset when it happens.

[jake-the-peg]

Sorry Goodsoulette but I just don't buy that.

Somthing like 3,300 British farms are infected with Bovine TB so for health officials to say that this one cow isolated in a temple could cause a major problem really is nonsense.

I'm also thinking aboout the huge upswelling of public symapthy for "Phoenix" the calf that survived the slaughter in the foot and mouth outbreak

I wonder what the difference was here?

Despite all this here is however an animal welfare issue but that doesn't seem high on people's agenda

[Goodsoulette]

So then you need to trace the cows origins. Is it fair that with the public health risks, that this cow is allowed to survive whereas all the other sin the chain of possible infection have to be slaughtered.

Of course animal welfare is high on peoples agendas, why do you think these rules are in place?

If they let this cow survive then this sets a precedent. We want an equal society, not one that treats farmers as second rate to any type of commune.

If you want to keep livestock in this country then you have to abide by the rules. If you think the rules suck, then the rules need changing. That would be done at the ballot box, if it bothers you so much I would arm yourself with information about TB and write to your MP.

If you dont believe that farmers arent upset by the effects of Tb. Maybe you would care to email my parents who are shut down with it at the moment. They by choice don't farm intensively but raise a suckler herd.

[mata hati]

Whilst I never like to see an animal put down - dont forget every time this TB infected cow snorted and sneezed (as cows do) it spread its TB into the air, it being passed about by these droplets (I believe) Isnt that a hazard to all the people who go near to it,? and if they then caught it, they subsequently pass it on the others?

[Goodsoulette]

Well apparently its isolated and we all know there is no way whatsoever that an airbourne disease could get out of an isolated stable. Its also almost certain that no other small animal could get into the stable and pick the disease up from the cow via its dung pile or urine stained straw and then run off and pass it to the rest of the herd, or maybe another farmers herd.

Of course a life indoors and isolated is brilliant for the sacred bull ??????????

[annavc]

Totally agree goodsoulette. All this protest about this animal being saved because it's isolated in a seperate stall etc - what about quality of life? If those that revere this animal were so concerned about it surely they would see something wrong in confining it to a small stable for the rest of its life.

I don't like the idea of any animal being slaughtered but this one presented a threat to others as such should be subject to the same rules as farm animals. As you say, no one raises a protest when whole herds have to be slaughtered because of this disease and that drastically affects the livelihoods of many people and is extremely distressing. Just becuse a few people reckon this beast is sacred to their religion does not mean the rules don't apply. Rant over!

[jake-the-peg]

All of a sudden the angle is animal welfare?

Your first response GS was of farmers that couldn't move their heards and how this exception was a slap in the face to farmers.

Your whole message revolved around the "one rule for them another for farmers" - a quick trip into of course it's animal welfare and you're back on the "equal society" rant.

Seems to me your concern for animal welfare is a distinct second to your outrage at what you see as a bunch of foreiners bending the rules?

Were you out carrying a placard for "phoenix" to be shot?

[Goodsoulette]

In all fairness Jake the peg, how very dare you? Sounds to me like you are claiming I am racist and cant debunk an argument without getting nasty.

If Shambo had been granted a reprieve it would have been one rule for one and not for others.

I didn't realise you were a vet or scientist.... or that you had the answers to TB hidden up your sleeve. Maybe you could share them with the rest of the country to stop the heartache in the 3,300 farms that have postitve Tb reactors on their premises.

I was merely pointing out to keep the animal from spreading the disease would be an infringement on animal rights. Something that you seem to be so very concerned about. By keeping an animal alive in an enclosed sterile space with limited contact from humans and none whatsoever from other animals seems against animal rights to me. Its a bit like saying battery hens are alright cos they are alive. Just because an animal isn't dead doesn't mean thats its rights aren't being infringed.

I really find your bunch of foreigners comment very insulting.

[jake-the-peg]

You still haven't answered the Phoenix question I notice

[Goodsoulette]

I was living at home at the time of the foot and mouth outbreak and was heavily pregnant. It was a very scary time. Fortunately due to the entrance to the farmhouse being different to the farm, we were allowed on and off the premises for the time being. Phoenix was a healthy cow, the herd that was being slaughtered that she was a part of was healthy. It's a totally different set of circumstances. Foot and Mouth for starters normally clears up in cattle after 2-3 weeks, infection spread to humans is extremely rare and cannot be caught through drinking an infected animals meat or milk. This is not the case with bTB.

Phoenix was literally a ray of hope and downing street stepping in to save this calf's life was a political move. At a time when farmers had nowhere to turn it was a symbol of hope.

You I notice have failed to come up with a plan to keep animals from spreading the disease in a way that is kind.

[kwicky]

The fact that this episode has cost over �100,000 to date would it not have been cheaper to ship the bullock to the headquarters of that hindu religion in India?