VAL Gaize puts forward some very good arguments against the badger cull (Killing badgers is not the answer, Your View, October 23), but it’s also important to remember that this slaughter isn’t being done out of any love for cows.

Fewer than 40,000 dairy cows are killed annually in the UK because of bovine TB, which is less than 10 per cent of the 450,000 that are put to death each year, with more than 100,000 being killed due to infertility, 120,000 because of mastitis and lameness and the remaining 200,000 because they have become too old to be efficient milk producers.

Naturally, cows can live to be up to 25 years old, but the dairy industry slaughters them when they are only five to seven years of age, and 100,000 male calves are killed annually on dairy farms, shortly after birth, because they are of no use for producing milk.

All this suffering and slaughter takes place because humans want to drink a product that is really meant for calves.

And all totally unnecessary when we can all live perfectly healthily without consuming milk, meat or any other animal products.

Thankfully, more and more people are becoming vegan or vegetarian every year and many others are reducing their consumption of meat, fish, eggs and dairy out of concern for animals, the environment, or their own health.

Worcestershire Vegans and Veggies exists to help people switch to a more humane diet and lifestyle and we can be contacted at info@worcsveg.org.uk, on 01562 700043 or via our website at worcsveg.org.uk.

RONALD LEE Worcestershire Vegans & Veggies