David Jennings, Bandon, Co Cork

DEAR EDITOR

Irish and European farmers need to be aware of the ruse that is going on with carbon and methane in cattle.

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While there are 7 million cattle in Ireland, there are only 75 million cattle across Europe – a huge area. Now just 17 million cattle are left in Russia – a huge land mass, twice the size of Europe nearly devoid of cattle.

Ethiopia and Sudan have 96 million cattle, two countries that regularly have droughts and famines.

India, which is less than half the size of Europe and has some of the hottest temperatures, has 190 million cattle plus another 100 million water buffalo.

Bangladesh, with 25 million cattle, has a much denser cattle population than Ireland at less than twice the area of Ireland. Brazil has 230 million cattle and China has 100 million cattle.

So focusing on Ireland or Europe reducing cattle numbers makes very little sense but appears to be a fashionable idea for European research money and constant farmer-bashing editorials.