Letter: No animals, no countryside

Sir, Robert Carr's farm may be run on humane lines (letter, 20 November) but there are many, influenced by the financial advantage of over-intensive production of livestock, that are not.

The welfare of animals will continue to deteriorate so long as they are designated as mere "commodities" in the Treaty of Rome. Unless steps are taken to get animals re-categorised as "sentient beings", we may be faced with the nightmare of scientists believing they can solve the problem of animal abuse by producing an apparently "senseless" strain which shows no aversion to discomfort, deprivation or pain, which would be the ultimate obscenity.

JOAN HAGGARD

Harpenden, Hertfordshire