HEARTFELT thanks to Michael Langtry for highlighting the practices which are causing so much suffering to British farm animals (January 2).

The utter barbarism described in the book he recommended, The Silent Ark, shocked me so deeply that I have not only became a vegetarian, but joined Viva to campaign against these shameful abuses.

Lucinda Scott,

Heslington Croft,

Fulford,

York.

Updated: 11:47 Thursday, January 16, 2003