h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7056501.stm

"The problem we are up against is everyone has the image of lovely, fluffy badgers galloping about, but cows are also entitled to lives."

Is it just me, or does that make absolutely no sense?

It makes no sense at all... Asides anything most of those cows which are entitled to lives are being gotten ready for me to eat them and the loverly fluffy badgers should be left alone

The thing is the cattle could be innoculated against TB but the government won't do that as it costs more than culling the badgers and also there is some ridiculous argument that giving lifestock intended for food production will cause some damage to the food chain.

hi i read the article... did i miss the answer to these questions or do you guys know the answers?

do the badgers have TB?
how are the badgers responsible for the bovine TB
isnt TB contagious?

do i want to eat beef raised in GB at this time?

didnt GB have a big problem with mad cow disease?

is it possible that GB isnt a great place to raise cattle? for the nonce, anyway?

Maybe this will cheer you up - http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/21989/Village-stranded-by-rampant-badgers

<<"The problem we are up against is everyone has the image of lovely, fluffy badgers galloping about, but cows are also entitled to lives."

Is it just me, or does that make absolutely no sense?>>

Makes sense to me. Too many people look at nature through rose tinted glasses and thus we have badgers - which are actually vicious little buggers - looked upon as cute and fluffy. That being said I think inoculating the cows would be a better idea, if we want to keep livestock we should look after it properly rather than taking the easy/cheap option.

Jesus. Can't anyone have a stupid discussion on h2g2 any more without people coming along and turning it serious?

It's part of my Hallowe'en costume... normally I turn serious discussions stupid. Or at least cause a big argument which I then calmly walk away from.

If cows are entitled to lives, why are they artificially kept giving more milk than nature intended, their daughters condemed to the same life and their sons eaten?

Not that I begrudge eating the odd cow or three, but it definitely makes no sense. I think what was meant was 'we're entitled to eat these animals without them dying off early because a protected species gets a cough'.

Come on when have you ever confined it to the Halloween Costume Ball.

I'm trying to lull everyone into a false sense of security then a silly thread pops up at Easter time and BAM! I turn it serious.

In response to your questions

do the badgers have TB?

Yes Badgers have Tony Blackburn but prefer Dermot O'Leary

how are the badgers responsible for the bovine TB
isnt TB contagious?

It is part of their evil Iraqi backed plot for chemical warfare.

do i want to eat beef raised in GB at this time?

Surely pork sausages are more appropriate for Breakfast save the beef for Dinner this evening.

didnt GB have a big problem with mad cow disease?

To TB was Prime Minister at the time. GB was busy looking after the economy.

is it possible that GB isnt a great place to raise cattle?

Green Bay is well renowned for it cheese production, see the Cheeseheads the fans wear, so the cattle there are well looked after though not allowed to graze on Lambau Field.

I thought Green Bay were a pop/punk band...

That's Day not Bay are the Packers of American fitba fame.

They play fitba in America now? I thought they only played that weird version of Rugby with the armour.

Apparently they do play Fitba over there Becks is constantly moaning off that he's injured, probably scared of the heavily armoured opposition.

Oh right... I do keep hearing about Becks being involved with LA Galaxy or somesuch, but I thought that was something to do with chocolate.

Aye that's right Galaxy and Red Bull play in the same league.

So US fitba teams are named after confectionary and fizzy drinks?