Thank you so much for introducing your readers to the "Carbon Footprint Concept" (Ideas, March 18). The suggestions from the UNCG students were terrific except for one misconception. Cattle, goats and sheep have a remarkable ability to turn extremely low-quality forage into extremely high-quality protein that provides a couple of particular amino acids that it's hard to eat enough soybeans to digest directly.

Surprisingly, cattle, as ruminant digesters, are the most efficient at this. It takes more energy to make those essential amino acids and eat enough soybeans to get them than to get the same protein from beef.

Plant a tree. Recycle. Use less hot water. Wear sweaters and long-johns and put less heat in the house.

And have fewer babies, worldwide.

John R. Dykers Jr.
Siler City