Values

Last night on Countryfile, the 'regular' farmer, who makes a weekly appearance, was shown delivering lambs and bottle feeding some of the rejected.  He made an interesting observation whilst so doing. He said 'Bottle feeding lambs, given the cost of dried milk and the time it takes, doesn't add up economically.'

Although the comment was made almost as an aside, those younger viewers who heard it might still be somewhat mortified.

Yet at lambing time, it's easy to forget the farming is an industry and not an extension to a Disney theme park.  Farmers in North Wales work mighty hard and have to take tough decisions. 

But where do we draw the line? Every year, the Great Orme goats hit the headlines, usually because - lacking natural predators - they reproduce too quickly and to an unsustainable level.  Every summer, also, a young or old goat will get stuck on a ledge, prompting an avalanche of calls from concerned tourists. §yet do we do these animals any favours by rescuing them and thus ensuring the older and weaker genetic traits get passed down through the generations? It's easy  - and fashionable - to condemn those who believe in non interference with the natural processes, but perhaps sensible thought should be given to how best to deal with wild animals who have to survive, even if only on the Orme.

Nature, after all, has been dealing with this for millions of years.