Ducks are kept in shameful conditions

DON'T DUCK ISSUE: I have recently become aware of the shameful conditions on duck farms supplying major supermarkets. Animal group Viva! has filmed ducks crammed into dirty, stinking sheds in their thousands, dead and dying birds, disabled ducks thrashing around on their backs in distress, unable to right themselves and the most unbelievable abuse of all – no water for these aquatic animals to bathe, preen or even clean themselves.

These conditions aren't exceptional, they are the norm – the sad result of today's intensive farming systems.

Like most people, I believed supermarkets expected high welfare standards from their meat suppliers. But sadly, almost all duck meat on sale in UK supermarkets, shops and Chinese restaurants for that matter, comes from factory farms.

Yet another animal has been added to the list of those abused on a really unimaginable scale.

Eighteen million ducks are bred for meat in the UK every year. Anyone who has seen the pictures of how these pathetic animals are mistreated knows just how hollow are the supermarkets claims of caring about animal welfare. Don't be fooled and don't buy duck meat.

MRS S PLIMBLEY

Tunstall