Perpetuating wrong facts about agriculture

SIR, – Nathan McGovern [of Animal Rebellion] wrongly claimed sheep and cattle grazing ruined the soil quality of Scottish farmland during an interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s Kaye Adams show, on January 31.

His claim could be the most false statement I have ever heard and is out of touch with reality. How would he explain that yields per acre had increased since the agricultural revolution?

Nathan went on to say that soil quality could be improved by organic farming and crop rotation. He should try reading about ‘Turnip’ Townshend and the Norfolk four-course rotation of wheat, turnips, barley and clover.

Clever folk worked out a long time ago that livestock manure increased crop yields and improved soil fertility. Nathan was introduced at 9:05 am as being from the ‘Plant based university’ but it would have been more open and up front of BBC Radio Scotland to say he was a spokes person for ‘Just stop oil’, ‘Animal Rebellion’, ‘Extinction Rebellion’ etc.

Somehow Kaye Adams – who, by the way, is a vegetarian – later commented that she had heard very articulate arguments from Nathan (actually from both sides). I could have awarded that praise to Sarah Miller, of QMS, who, maybe too politely, rebutted Nathan’s mistaken claims with the correct answer that Scotland’s land has healthy soil infrastructure where mixed agriculture with grass fed sheep and beef have been practised and that Scotland’s grassland shouldn’t be lumped in with studies focused on tropical deforestation, eg Brazil.

Sarah also pointed out that livestock aren’t just a source of healthy food but also many other products. I would add: what about wool which, when blended with polyester, can make the best insulating clothes like M&S thermal vests; also leather for shoes and gloves.

Without animal products the demand for fossil oil to make synthetic materials for clothes would be all the greater. And without animal manure, even more gas would be needed for artificial fertiliser production.

If you want to eat eggs, milk or cheese it is more efficient to eat the chicken, or beef than to let them live beyond productive age as is done by some religions. Anyway, Nathan isn’t content to allow democracy and freedom of shopping choice in Britain.

Even though he holds a minority of view in Britain, he wants to impose a vegan or vegetarian diet where ever possible by infiltrating decision making authorities. Well, the next time I buy some delicious Scottish roast beef it will be added relish to think that my choice annoys folk like him.