I WAS very disappointed to see the front page of Saturday's Post ("Pull the udder one").

The link between the livestock industry and climate change is a serious issue accepted by many people, from the UN and Al Gore down.

I raised this in Parliament last week because I believe the facts demand action, whether that be the farming industry exploring ways in which emissions can be reduced or individuals who are concerned about the environment choosing to limit their meat consumption in the same way that others are choosing to use their cars less or take fewer flights.

It is simply irresponsible, however, to conflate this issue with the story about Bristol City Council's proposal to keep a herd of cows on Stoke Park.

As I made clear in my contribution to that piece, the appearance of another 100 or so cows in the Bristol area is neither here nor there when it comes to the question of global warming.

The fact that only one vegan (not "vegans", as the strapline suggested) was found who would condemn the proposal on those grounds speaks for itself.

Whether keeping a herd of cows is a sensible project for the council to embark upon is another matter.

I, for one, would suggest their energies might be better expended in sorting out the buses and fly-tipping, and I think most council taxpayers would agree. When can we expect to see serious proposals put forward by the council for a Quality Bus Contract so that we can bring in real competition to First Bus and an Integrated Transport Authority for the Bristol area?

The Government has done its bit, giving local authorities new powers under the Local Transport Act.

Now it's time for the council to do the job us council taxpayers are actually paying it to do.

Kerry McCarthy MP, by email.

IT'S just silly to criticise the city council's plan to run a herd of cattle at Stoke Park on the grounds of its potential for global warming.

On a global basis, livestock might well cause more global warming than transport, but let's get things in perspective.

Annually, this herd of about 80 cattle would have (very roughly) the same effect as five cars, or a quarter of the effect of a single flight to the Mediterranean (200-seat aircraft one way).

Richard Davies, by email.

THESE vegans should look to themselves first, as eating all those vegetables will make them give off as much methane as a cow (just think of all that extra cabbage and beans they must eat compared with meat-eating people).

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