The last line of Mrs Allison's letter leads me to think that she is a vegan. If that is the case then she has a sound moral foundation for her preaching about the use of animals in our diet.

Vegetarians who trumpet the same message of the non-use of meat as part of the human diet are merely hypocrites. Most veggies drink milk and eat eggs and cheese, all of which require the rearing of animals.

And, incidentally, these veggies are often "green"' as well, which means they only use natural fibres and fabrics like wool and leather. A trifle inconsistent, I would say! And if we are to farm organically, where does the manure come from to nourish the crops?

However, as usual, Mrs Allison doesn't think through her arguments. I quote her: "Their (the animals') most basic interest is no different from ours – to continue to live." First, they enjoy their lives while they live and have no prior knowledge of their impending death. To imagine that any such thoughts cast a shadow over their lives is romantic nonsense.

And secondly, if we didn't rear them for slaughter, they wouldn't be alive to enjoy the spring sunshine or a warm and comfortable cattle (or sheep) yard in winter. So more enjoy a short life without care than if Mrs Allison's sterile version of a healthy diet were to prevail.

Wendy Warren, South Kilworth.