Letter: Small abattoirs less frightening

Small abattoirs less frightening

Sir: Rulings from Brussels on the slaughter of food animals ("Abattoir animals deserve better", letter, 17 March) were too vigorously enforced in our country by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, forcing small abattoirs out of business.

Animals are now sent on much longer journeys to very noisy, rapid-production, less caring, huge EU-approved abattoirs. No wonder the poor creatures are scared, and all supposedly in the name of improved hygiene standards.

Not only has this government caused a lot of extra, unnecessary stress for animals going to slaughter, it has also caused a lot of stress for owners of small abattoirs and their now redundant workers.

BRENDA BUCK

Leeds