DEAR EDITOR -- I have recently became aware of a shocking example of the cruelty of factory farming - the pig farming crate, a metal cage in which sows are confined a week before giving birth and remain imprisoned until her piglets are three to four weeks old.

Sadly, this treatment is typical of factory farming which puts profit ahead of animal welfare. Every time I urge people to stop eating the meat produced in this barbaric way.

For information on factory farming and vegetarianism, contact VIVA at 12 Queen Square, Brighton, BN1 3FD. Tel: 0845 456 8220 or www.viva.org.uk.

Mrs Y Perry

Barrington Road

Rubery