Kinds of cruelty

In his attempt to justify the snaring of foxes, Ian McCall (Letters, 23 April) makes the simple mistake of equating the cruelty caused by animals with cruelty caused by humans.

Predators such as foxes cause "necessary" cruelty to stay alive. This in no way excuses or mitigates the cruelty landowners inflict on foxes and other animals by use of snares. We are supposed to be better than foxes; we are the self-styled "moral" species.

If Ian McCall is truly anxious about preventing the kind of suffering experienced by his lambs, he should consider an alternative use of his land. Sheep farming is not an efficient form of land use; without subsidies few farmers would keep sheep in the UK.

JAMES BOYLE

Glazert Road

Dunlop, East Ayrshire