Can the three reporters who wrote your front page article explain to readers on Tuesday evening why they think hunt supporters left carcasses on the streets of Brighton?
Perhaps they could follow up with an article about the livestock industry and how fallen stock is currently disposed of?
When a cow produces a calf, she is then milked by a farmer so the milk can be sold to us consumers. If the calf is a heifer (female) it too will go on to produce milk in the future. If the calf is a bull (male) it is quite likely to be shot at birth. This is for a number of reasons.
Dairy animals such as Holsteins and Friesians don't make good beef and the cost of fattening them is more than consumers are prepared to pay in order to make the effort worthwhile.
Next time you look in the meat counter in the supermarket you will see Argentinian and Brazilian beef much cheaper and occupying an increasingly large section of shelves.
Live export from Shoreham was the fate of most of these bull calves until, quite rightly, it was stopped.
So bull calves are shot at birth by the hunt staff and fed to the hounds.
The farming and hunting community have to make decisions daily to prevent suffering to sick or injured animals.
No one likes to shoot a new-born animal or much-loved horse but it is a humane service carried out by hunts all over this country at no cost to the taxpayer.
Animals get sick, deer get hit by cars and some just get old.
Can your reporters suggest a method of cheap disposal that is local, doesn't require live transport and doesn't cost the taxpayers?
What about incineration at Newhaven when it is built (not in my backyard) or perhaps landfill?
All of you who drink milk, buy cheap, imported beef or wear leather shoes, spare a thought for the people who clear up the blood and guts in the countryside.
Spare a thought for those who still have their feet and hands in the soil and don't shy away or turn a blind eye when an animal has to be put down and despatched.
-The banner placed on the dead horse prophesied, "you will see more of this if hunting is banned" and unless the Government and Defra can come up with something as humane, cheap, unsubsidised and (until now) discreet, the prophecy will come true.
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