Over the last few weeks there has been a renewed level of activity in the farmer - vegan debate. Funny actually because vegans need farmers to grow their food too.

It is one that annoys me as I feel if people want to eat nuts let them, but if the next person wants a rare steak let them eat it.

As usual, things sometimes get too personal in debates especially nowadays with all these keyboard warriors.

Brian Rushe’s article recently got me thinking. In it, Brian said to think about your response and don’t just start shouting. A thought I have held for a long time resurfaced.

Stay with me for a minute while I explain. We are avid horse racing fans in this house and, while watching the nags one Saturday afternoon, I heard a prominent leading UK horse trainer say “he’s a lovely human and has a fantastic personality”.

I asked dad: “Who’s he talking about, the jockey?”. “No,” replied dad, "the horse.”

Therein for me lies the problem.

Animals are not human and I feel over the last number of years when we hear some of the debate surrounding this subject this has been the sole focus

Yes, animals have senses and are aware of their surroundings and as a farmer I am fully aware of this: it abhors me to see animals not cared for and slaughtered incorrectly.

I have no problem saying that, when I rear animals from birth and send them to slaughter, it is a bitter-sweet moment when you send them up the kill line in a meat factory, However, if a percentage of the population wants to eat meat and we, as a farm family and community, are to make a living, this is what has to be done.

Animals do not know from birth that we are going to slaughter them eventually. It is in our interests as farmers that we rear and care for them as best as we can but we cannot continue to let farm animals reared for the production of food be talked about as though they are humans. Horses are reared for meat too.

Engagement

Yes, we have to engage with the public to show how well-cared for our animals are. Yes, an open door policy is needed from farm to fork to show people that from birth to slaughter these animals are minded.

However, we must also never lose sight of the fact that they are animals.

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We cannot afford to take public perception for granted

Farmer Writes: Ronan Delany