We have all heard of the farmers' "plight" due to the foot and mouth scandal - how they have had to kill their stock (which they would have killed anyway).

Perhaps we should think a moment about the positive aspects instead. Animals aren't being crammed into lorries and driven for miles across Europe without food or water; sheep are not being exported so they can be part of Muslim festivals (ie have their throats cut in front of their fellows while still conscious); pregnant vixens won't be hunted to exhaustion and ripped to pieces; hare coursing and stag hunting will have to stop; mink hunting will have to stop and, hopefully, the gun-toting brigade will be restricted.

More people might see the light and become vegetarian. There is always a silver lining.

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