You're right, it is better that we eat them. When an animal gets over populated, we slaughter them, so may as well eat them too!
I wish we could live without killing anything, but that's not going to happen. I love animals so much and I feel horrible for eating them, but atleast they're killed quickly and most of them are used (Dead animals are in most shampoos and soaps, even mugs!)
I saw something horrible from the racing industry in the USA today...I'm glad we don't do this in the UK!
WARNING THIS IS HORRIFIC AND BRUTAL Not for the faint hearted.
[spoiler]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOiixz2zFE[/spoiler]