Treatment of animals in the dairy industry

Continued shock over programme on dairy sector

Sir, – Eddie Molloy in his letter (Letters, July 13th) states that “the dairy industry’s other secret is the pollution of our rivers and lakes, which farmers seem to do with impunity”. Has he brought the details of these offences to An Garda Síochána?

May I also point out that, as a retired veterinary inspector who had responsibility for animal welfare in a mart and was involved in the closure of two other marts, it is essential for those workers handling animals to have a stick in their hand for personal protection and for guiding animals.

However, it is a completely different situation when that stick is misused. I only saw the treatment of calves that was shown on the nine o’clock news. What I saw was reprehensible and would never have happened in the mart for which I was responsible. – Yours, etc,

RICHARD ALLEN,

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Cummeen,

Sligo.

Sir, – If EU law fails millions of people so badly, then what can poor, terrorised creatures expect? This, of course, is not to say that the poor little things deserve any form of cruelty.

As usual, money is more important than how creatures feel.

It’s no wonder that nature is repaying us with chaotic weather. – Yours, etc,

DR FLORENCE CRAVEN,

Bracknagh,

Co Offaly.