George Adams is right in his logic that meat eaters shouldn’t make distinctions about which animals they eat (Letters, April 14).
After all, what’s the difference between a cute fluffy lamb and a cute fluffy cat?
Where do all you Easter lamb eaters think that leg came from?
However, Mr Adams is totally wrong in thinking that we’re superior to other animal species and that the answer to an increasing population is to eat more animals.
Recent research has shown that many creatures are quicker and cleverer in logic tests and are adept at making tools.
They grieve for their dead and help each other as well
as (sometimes) other species in
distress. Dolphins have kept drowning humans afloat and a wild elephant recently rescued a baby from the rubble of a house.
If we stop destroying forests and using tracts of land to grow even more food for livestock we could easily feed the world.
Animal products take feed and huge amount of water
– another dwindling resource.
And, of course, we could even begin to think about limiting our population growth on this finite planet as, eventually, there won’t be room for all of us if we keep multiplying out of control.
But that’s far too intelligent a concept for mere humans to grasp. We’ll leave that to other species.
Sue Baumgardt, Stoneham Road, Hove
In response to George Adams, we should care about animal slaughter.
He poses the question, “With an increasing human population, surely we should be using more animals?”
My response is that we should be eating fewer.
Raising animals for food is grossly inefficient because while animals eat large quantities of grain, soybeans, oats, and corn, they only produce comparatively small amounts of meat, dairy products or eggs in return.
This is why more than 70% of the grain and cereals we grow in this country and in the US are fed to farmed animals.
It takes up to 13 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of meat and even fish on fish farms must be fed up to five pounds of wild-caught fish to produce one pound of farmed fish flesh.
Our protein needs to be obtained through plant foods, not cats and dogs, in order to reverse the devastation humans have wreaked upon the planet so far.
Until we recognise this and respond accordingly, we can never claim to be the superior species.
David Hammond, North Court, Hassocks
As the intelligent species on this fragile planet we should see ourselves as guardians.
It’s a fragile system of which we are 100% reliant.
In addition, if you don’t have respect for less sentient beings, how can you have respect for yourself?
The colonial attitude of pillaging nature is not only past its day but is dangerous.
Damon Libby, Vernon Terrace, Hove