Farmer Focus Livestock: Murray Garrett composes ode to Hilary Benn
I had promised myself I wouldn’t talk about TB again this month, but on reading reports of more affected premises, the failure of yet another delegation to Hilary Benn, the definite ruling out of a wildlife cull, etc, I thought it was time to compose a suitable ode to our DEFRA Minister.
Summer ’07 you became DEFRA’s new boss
An appointment that made many carnivores cross
Not only was their minster a veggie
But also the son of notorious “Wedgie”
Though the fair-minded were pleased to concede
To judge not with conjecture but deed.
Giving full benefit of the doubt
Hoping for a visionary with clout.
Since the late eighties it’s been depressing to see
Escalating cases of bovine TB
Now more than ever before
Blighted families knock at your door
Although growing pleas for action and tears
Appear to have fallen on unhearing ears
To date your approach is “laissez faire”
Others say that it proves you don’t care
All you tell us is we’ve reason to cheer
An injectable vaccine for badgers is near
Several questions this prompts me to ask
Like – how will you undertake such a task?
For a badger is clearly no pet
And surely vaccination must cover all in the sett?
With Brock’s part in transmission thus implied
How can culling licences still be denied?
One thing would appear to be true
Wildlife trusts have a hold over you
Such a poor grasp of reality I fear
Guarantees that you’ll soon be a peer
Perhaps as lucky as RBS’s Sir Fred
With a pension to turn everyone’s head.
- More from Murray Garrett
- More from other livestock Farmer Focus writers