THE two main points raised by Anita Knittel, Pauline Burgess and C R Elliott in their most recent letters to the Evening News (You Say, August 25) were the standards of transport and slaughter of livestock both in this country and abroad.

Britain has arguably some of the best animal welfare regulations in the world. Combined with rigorous enforcement, we certainly have much to be proud. But as with everything, room for sensible improvement can always be found.

To this end I know Anita Knittel, Pauline Burgess and C R Elliott will join me in publicly endorsing two important campaigns which will help to improve the welfare of farm livestock in this country and set a example abroad.

The first is the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme which through labelling meat and dairy products indicates to the consumer that the exacting standards of the society have been met regarding rearing, transport and slaughter. This commendable campaign will give the public a quality product that can be eaten with a clear conscience.

The second is the Countryside Alliance campaign to keep open small rural abattoirs. These small, often family-run premises regularly deal with organically-reared farm animals in smaller numbers and because they are close to the farm save livestock from unnecessarily long journeys by road.

Being small they have the ability to deal with animals in a far more sympathetic way. The threat to rural abattoirs has come about because of excessive red tape from central Government, spiralling costs and a farming crisis.

These two campaigns aim to achieve quality livestock which is locally reared, safely transported and prepared for the customer with the emphasise on welfare. That is something we must all support.

J N BURGESS, Malvern.

Editor's note: Correspondence on this subject - for the time being - is closed.