The Editor, Sir:

When Dr Thomas P Lecky was working out the characteristics of what was to become the celebrated Jamaica Hope, he was not only working on a cow for our circumstances. He was laying the groundwork for others in practical and theoretical ways to extend animal husbandry.

Here in recent times we have seen a farmer extending the work of Lecky in another direction, being frustrated. I refer to the farmer whose prize bull was slaughtered by praedial thieves. It is obvious that this animal was not only a show animal but was the sign of things to come in the Red Poll herd in Jamaica.

If Dr Lecky were carrying out his work in today's Jamaica, maybe there would not have been a Jamaica Hope, given the menace of praedial thieves.

I am, etc.,

MIDDLETON WILSON

middletonwilson@bellsouth.net