Profits from suffering

Again, a disease scare focuses attention on modern animal farming practices (your report, 6 February). It is likely to be no coincidence that the H5N1 bird flu virus has been found on one of the largest animal farms in Europe. Rearing 160,000 turkeys on one farm is factory farming on a massive scale.

Over the past 50 years, farming has been transformed into modern "agribusiness", controlled by large companies with a single motive of making as much profit as possible. Animals are no longer treated as individual beings but more like units of production: egg, milk or meat-producing machines.

The products have become cheaper and cheaper, with the animals paying a price for increased efficiency.

ROSS MINETT

Director, Advocates for Animals

Queensferry Street

Edinburgh