Dr Andrew Kelly (May 18) correctly states humans "are no better or worse than other species, just different". This is the principle upon which vegetarianism is based and as such his accusation addressed to Dr David Walker (May 16) as holding the view that "humans are at the top of some sort of evolutionary chain" is flawed.

Vegetarians believe animals experience the same emotions as human animals, eg, fear, anxiety, love, and as such should be considered and respected. Vegetarians are realistic enough to know man will not cease to eat meat, certainly in the near future, and as such can only seek, as Dr Kelly does, to achieve compassion in world farming.

However, no matter how compassionate the farming and meat industry become I am sure the animals involved would much rather not end their days in a terrifying abattoir.

The mammalian part of the brain (ie, the part which controls emotions, as can be scientifically demonstrated) is the principle reason why vegetarians find eating meat abhorent. No-one is suggesting not eating meat will at this point in time improve the welfare of farm animals to any great degree but we should not be condemned for trying.

Cameron Walker, 26 West Bay Road, Millport.

Organic farming is not synonamous with animal welfare as some of your correspondents seem to think. Many organic farmers would like to vaccinate their animals against distressing diseases, such as Orf, but the zealots of their organic assurance organisations forbid vaccination, unless prevalence of the condition is proven. Orf can be contracted by humans and can be particularly distressing to young lambs.

As for the environmental benefits of vegetarianism, large areas of Britain are difficult to farm any other way than under grass, owing to the nature of the terrain and climate. Much of the replacement proteins for animal products would have to be imported, because legumes need higher temperatures than grass. The consequencies to the environment of all this extra importation and pressure on limited land overseas may well offset any gains from not using animal products.

Sandy Henderson, Faulds Farm, Braco, Dunblane.

I remember reading some years ago about research which suggested that plants "screamed" when cut. It came back to me reading Ross Minett's letter regarding the ultimate aim of Advocates for Animals: "No animals bred or farmed to eat" (letters, May 19).

Supposing future research showed that vegetables did, indeed, suffer when harvested, what then? Might there be underground groups of really thin gourmands, persecuted on the one hand by Advocates for Animals and on the other by Lawyers for Legumes, perhaps?

I'm all for free-ranging, well-cared-for livestock and organically grown fruit and vegetables. But live and let's eat.

Douglas McNicol, 78 Hazelwood Road, Bridge of Weir.