Stop inhumane export trade in live animals – Yorkshire Post Letters

I WAS horrified to view on the BBC a report which exposed an account of the export trade of live animals. It explained what is really happening with the inhumane treatment of cattle on long journeys from Ramsgate to Spain for fattening, which when finally fattened, are loaded on to ships bound for horrific slaughter houses in Lebanon.

I cannot understand why animals have to be put through this torture. I understand that bull calves are a product of the dairy industry and are destined for meat but is there any need to export them to be fattened when surely it could be done in the UK?

We pride ourselves on our British standards for animal welfare yet I cannot believe that farmers can contemplate sending their animals to such a fate. The standards end when the cattle are loaded on to wagons and ships so isn’t it better to process them here? Stricter regulations for transport and export cannot be monitored or enforced and the animals are completely at the mercy of bad practice. They are sentient beings and, as such, deserve our respect, so please stop this trade.

A copy of this letter has been sent to my local MP Kevin Hollinrake, Environment Secretary George Eustice and Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson