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We are traditionally a “stack it high, sell it low” economy, and people in this country are used to cheap food. The supermarkets tell us that they respond to consumer demand. The cost of production in this country is always higher because of the standards that we set—standards that we, as a Government and as consumers, expect from our producers—yet that cost is never reflected in the shelf price. How do we ask consumers to put pressure on supermarkets and demand that product when people are struggling to pay their everyday bills?

I want to talk about natural impacts such as weather, pests and things like that, from a livestock producer’s point of view. A couple of years ago, the Galloway Cattle Society used a phrase, “The future is traditional”, to promote native breeds and their ability to outwinter—there is resilience and profitability. I go back to the question that I asked you earlier, Kate, about whether we are judging on eating quality or shape—my question is focused on cattle and sheep again, I am afraid. What role do the traditional native breeds have in ensuring that we have long-term profitability?

I will stop there, convener.

So, the dogs have these bonds and what have you. I am interested to hear that they are not being rehomed because they have never been homed. That goes back to the point that I was trying to make earlier: the dogs are bred for a specific purpose, which is to race only, whereas my understanding—I could be wrong—is that, at the amateur track, the dogs are very much part of the family. Please do not think that I am trying to make that differentiation between the two things.

At a professional track, do the owners have insurance? If I am a pet owner and my dog gets injured, I can have pet insurance that will allow that dog to be treated, up to a certain amount. Do you have insurance? Paul, do the folk who come to your racing track insure their dogs against injury on the basis that there is a risk that the dogs will get hurt when they are going round the track?

Thank you. I am pretty sure that that is the company where Professor Alice Stanton did the work on the red meat supply chains. I think that the committee will look at that.

I want to talk about profitability. Kate Rowell, this is for you. Farmers can make money in two ways. They can either sell to the market at the cost of production plus, to get a profit, or they can sell to the market and be supported by the Government so that the price of the product is not beyond the consumer’s ability to buy it. That is my understanding of the two ways in which a farm can be sustainable. What role do supermarkets play in that equation?

Sorry—I am asking you whether I am wrong to make the assumption that, for the folk that are coming to you, the dog is part of the family—

That kind of goes back to the point that the convener made. We do not know how many dogs will get euthanised by the folk who come and race at your track, but we have statistics, so we can make that argument and that judgment. It goes back to the question that the convener asked: how can the committee be confident that how your track is being run will allow the committee and the wider public to have confidence that what you guys are doing meets the standards and people’s expectations around animal welfare?

Thank you very much, deputy convener.

My first act as convener is to conclude the public part of our meeting.

You have taken that figure from a sample of 51 people.

If you are going to rewild or plant trees in those areas, how many tenant farmers have you spoken to about that system? The landowner might get something out of changing over to rewilding, but what about the tenant farmers? There are many tenant farmers in LFA areas.