Madam, - The long-distance transport of Irish animals to Europe and beyond is rightly a huge concern to animal welfare organisations such as Compassion in World Farming.
We are appalled that the European Commission has agreed to facilitate the transport of Irish cattle to the EU via the United Kingdom. Worse still, the new Commission decision requires the animals to be transported in sealed trucks.
This will make it extremely difficult to find out if the cattle are in difficulties. All too often animals can fall down and get trampled on. Others lie down from exhaustion as the journey continues and also find they have inadequate space to struggle up to a standing position again. They too can get trampled on.
With current journey times allowing 28 hours on the truck, with a one-hour stop for water during which the animals remain on the vehicle, it seems unlikely that these animals will be viewed by competent personnel throughout that period, so animals in distress may go unnoticed. If the truck is sealed, it will also be difficult to ensure that all the animals have the opportunity to drink during the short halt.
CIWF requests Irish farmers, who care so well for their cattle throughout their on-farm lives, to reject this export trade and to ensure that the animals in their care are slaughtered locally in Irish slaughterhouses. Meat can always be exported, with the additional benefits of creating extra jobs in Ireland in the slaughter and meat and carcase processing industries. - Yours, etc.,
JOYCE D'SILVA, Chief Executive, Compassion in World Farming, Petersfield, Hampshire, England.