RE: Fw: Advocates for animals

Originally from: frances fish
                        
Hi Bill, We also use a lot of mineral licks for our sheep ( rare/minority breeds) and cattle (highland). A few years back, Brussels were talking of abolishing the right of individual farmers etc. to do this. We are quite severely defficient in Cobalt and its associate Selenium here, our Copper levels are marginal, so was on tenderhooks in case they followed through but, as usual, it was unworkable, and they didn't, thank heavens. If you slip a little further South from here, over the border into England, I understand they are even worse off and are defficient in nearly everything in the trace element/mineral line. Some know of this and supplement, others don't. All I can tell you is that we are seeing mineral buckets out most everywhere up here, cattle and sheep, where they weren't seen before. If the stock don't thrive, then you are looking for a reason. Vets are useless in this respect we have found to our cost, you are better talking to the locals and the agricultural merchants. O.K. I know the latter have a vested interest in selling you something, but we, as absolute novices, have cause to be extremely grateful for their advice in the past. Much of what Advocates for animals say is not correct or needs qualifying, bearing in mind always that people have to make a living, have to make whatever they do, pay. This cannot be at the expense of animal welfare, I agree, just look at the poultry business and the conditions they keep chickens etc, look at the big "piggy " enterprises, so much disease, so much Antibiotic used, so many dying or having to be slaughtered, most of it swept under the carpet. Most of this goes on beyond the public view, sheep keeping doesn't, they are out in the fields, in full public view, especially now the "right to roam" has appeared. Frances

Originally from: frances fish
                        
Hi Bill, We also use a lot of mineral licks for our sheep ( rare/minority breeds) and cattle (highland). A few years back, Brussels were talking of abolishing the right of individual farmers etc. to do this. We are quite severely defficient in Cobalt and its associate Selenium here, our Copper levels are marginal, so was on tenderhooks in case they followed through but, as usual, it was unworkable, and they didn't, thank heavens. If you slip a little further South from here, over the border into England, I understand they are even worse off and are defficient in nearly everything in the trace element/mineral line. Some know of this and supplement, others don't. All I can tell you is that we are seeing mineral buckets out most everywhere up here, cattle and sheep, where they weren't seen before. If the stock don't thrive, then you are looking for a reason. Vets are useless in this respect we have found to our cost, you are better talking to the locals and the agricultural merchants. O.K. I know the latter have a vested interest in selling you something, but we, as absolute novices, have cause to be extremely grateful for their advice in the past. Much of what Advocates for animals say is not correct or needs qualifying, bearing in mind always that people have to make a living, have to make whatever they do, pay. This cannot be at the expense of animal welfare, I agree, just look at the poultry business and the conditions they keep chickens etc, look at the big "piggy " enterprises, so much disease, so much Antibiotic used, so many dying or having to be slaughtered, most of it swept under the carpet. Most of this goes on beyond the public view, sheep keeping doesn't, they are out in the fields, in full public view, especially now the "right to roam" has appeared. Frances