Bob Flemming

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@ProtectTheWild_ On the other hand, the change in trajectory of England's TB rates is a national success story.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@bovinetb @clwydforest How do England/Wales' animals slaughtered compared as a proportion of their respective national herds?

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@StuartMaggs Solar is so cheap, added cost to a new house is negligible. Especially in roof, as it displaces other materials.

Solar on every new home should be the default.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@BadgerCrowd Some context about what a "failed" policy looks like, for your readers, might be helpful.

You can empathise with an administration reluctant to be responsible for reversing the current downward trend.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

England's TB situation. Is it still improving? Or starting to stagnate? Things should be interpreted over a longer timeframe and reduction rates would be expected to reduce as driving out infected gets harder and harder but now isn't the time to be complacent.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@Dublinate @Cynfab3 @herdyshepherd1 https://t.co/EoghwdSA1t

Worth reading on the subject.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@GeorginaMangan4 @terrierview It's not really about wanting to believe one thing or another, it's about looking at what the evidence suggests.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@terrierview @AnneatSaveMe @RosieWoodroffe Then, why do decades of scientific work since, confirm the conclusion?

I've a lot of time for the effort you are putting into study farm/s. But don't be under the illusion that what you are doing is science. Or that it shows badgers aren't a significant TB reservoir in places.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@terrierview @AnneatSaveMe Probably the most robust example.

If Anne wants us to ignore this, ok. But why?

What made the culling of those badgers in an RCT reduced cattle TB, if not the culling of those badgers?

Why were those scientists like @RosieWoodroffe wrong?

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@AnneatSaveMe I have.

The most critical of appraisal of decades of research involving 1000s of badgers can't wish away the input from badgers to nothing.

If you've an alternative hypothesis that explains why all these scientists are wrong, let's hear it....

Gatcombe is a single data point.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@StillRosieWood @Bill_Sutherland His video on density dependence might help you understand why you got it wrong when you said that badger population has been halved by culling.

https://t.co/K7axYP5twd

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@AilsaWise @ProtectTheWild_ If the area you refer to us "Area 32" in Cumbria, this is a good news story,

TB detected in found dead badgers has dropped from over 10% in 2018 to none found in 2020/21.

Of course actual prevalence will be higher but trajectory is the right way.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

Chair of badger trust reveals they do not understand what is meant by a dynamic population.

Rosie, removing x number of a population over an extended period does not mean that the population will be reduced by x number at the end of that extended period.

This is basic stuff.

[Rosie Wood @StillRosieWood]

@BobFlemming73 It is dynamic as are all wild populations

It isn't inexhaustible and isn't the cause of bTB rates in cattle. That's still cattle.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@StillRosieWood When redistributive tax advocates say the changes don't achieve what they're designed to and pointlessly hurt farmers, maybe you're wrong.

https://t.co/nI0zsRvtq9

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@Rosewood_Farm @EdwdPrice @StillRosieWood They're unfair. The changes will make little to no difference to some, while be quite devastating to others. With no relationship to the viability of their business.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@StillRosieWood Chair of badger trust reveals they do not know that badgers are a dynamic population. Whoops.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@Rosewood_Farm @StillRosieWood @NFUPolitical @NFFNUK Absolutely. Some habitats, often the most at risk, are, by definition unproductive. Or, so labour intensive as to be unviable.

It's typical of people, like Rosie, with a little knowledge, to think they have all the answers and solutions are simple, easy and free.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@StillRosieWood @Rosewood_Farm @NFUPolitical @NFFNUK Great! You can just copy them on your farm then.

Don't see how people with differing opinions are "in the way" though, can you explain?

There is no "right" way. Every farm is different and can be viably farmed in near infinite ways.

[Bob Flemming @BobFlemming73]

@StillRosieWood @Rosewood_Farm @NFUPolitical @NFFNUK You seem to have some very forthright opinions on how best to farm.... Again, get a FBT? Pay the bills? If I'm wrong, why not show everyone the right way...?