THROUGHOUT the foot and mouth crisis, media commentators say nothing of the long-distance transport of live farm animals or of sheep shipped to France to have their throats cut while still fully conscious.

They remain uncritical when farmers remove day-old bull calves from their mothers and shoot them because they have no value.

If export restrictions were not in place, they would be consigning them to the misery of veal crates abroad.

The reason for the mass slaughter is purely economic, and illustrates how farm animals are viewed -- as disposable items.

SHEILA BRENNAN (Mrs), Bombay Street, Blackburn.