Sir,

I am compelled to write in response to Neil Wilson’s IAAS views. There are a number of issues raised, some of which I would like to make comment on.

'Conditionality', now that we are in the 21st century and everyone is clamouring for government support, our supermarket shelves are full of products (not necessarily UK produced). Why should agriculture be given free money without conditions attached? Other industries are given targets to meet before receiving financial support.

Do we have the right type of suckler cow? Having travelled to various parts of the world and seen how our competitors are performing without government financial support, I wonder why we are so fearful and negative?

It seems to me that the UK beef industry has focused entirely on terminal genetics, increasing our maintenance bills and reducing our profitability. Have we forgotten the crucial role of the suckler cow with her maternal characteristics of fertility, docility and low maintenance costs?

After all, these cows are ruminants (the most efficient solar-powered lawnmowers on the planet), not monogastrics. Having the right cow in the right place with the right bull can lead to profitable beef production without financial support.

There are genetics in the marketplace that can give us a secure future for the Scottish beef industry. We must be positive, looking for opportunities that will enhance our businesses and lead to a more profitable sector.

James Playfair-Hannay, Morebattle Tofts, Kelso