Ethical farming, cocaine and Bernard Salt: readers’ letters

I am a meat-eater but I want to be satisfied that the animals have been raised in proper conditions, a reader writes.

Efforts: Michael Beveridge at the piggery. Picture: Sean Davey

Thank you for a balanced article on such an emotive issue as farming and animal welfare (“The boar wars”, May 18-19). I am a meat-eater but in order to continue enjoying it I want to be satisfied that the animals have been raised in proper conditions. I find much of the advertising and marketing endorsements on products confusing, but letting journalists and photographers onto farms is a good way for consumers like me to gain understanding and, hopefully, peace of mind. Michelle McKenzie, Melbourne, Vic

Dr Nick Hover, an animal welfare expert, defines the most important things you can give any animal as good nutrition and water. Dr Hover has clearly endorsed the Beveridges’ piggery as “the way to do it”. Maybe he should be questioning and reviewing this decision based on the copious volumes of Iced VoVo-flavoured cow’s milk, fish fingers, fruit juice and bread products fed daily to the pigs as being acceptable nutrition for this or any animal. Quite frankly, this type of endorsement only infuriates the public further. David Davies, Perth, WA

Congratulations on an informative piece about farming animal welfare. There is a small Victorian-based dairy farm, How Now Dairy, that is a leader in the ethical treatment of dairy cows and their calves. How Now does not separate the calves from their mothers or slaughter calves at five days old like many larger dairies (including organic and bio-dynamic). It is even endorsed by some vegans. Wendy O’Sullivan, Sunbury, Vic

Blantyre Farms’ application to build a piggery in the Harden district (on steeply sloping land in a major drinking water catchment) was rejected by the Environmental Protection Authority as environmentally unsustainable and by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage because of Aboriginal heritage. It was not rejected as a result of animal activists. J. Ryan, Murrumburrah, NSW

Narco reality

I’m sure the cocaine users and dealers in your story would say they are not hurting anyone and that these drugs should be legalised (“Money bags”, May 18-19). I wish we could transport them to Mexico to see the production and transport of cocaine in all its terrible cruelty. Adrian Haberhauer, Randwick, NSW

Count your blessings

Australians are lucky to have the opportunity to vote for their government (“Party politics”, May 18-19). Election day is a time to catch up with locals, eat “democracy sausages” and help many groups raise money for the community. People who pre-poll miss out on this special social interaction. Pre-polling seems “trendy” rather than necessary. Lesley Brandis, Camp Hill, Qld

Master of the art

Tamara Dean’s photograph of the nude underwater swimmers at Heron Island was captivating (Heart of the Nation, May 18-19). Ross Bilton is on the mark when he suggests the models “resemble figures from a Renaissance painting”. Much closer to home is their resemblance to the work of Australia’s master painter of nude figures, Norman Lindsay. What struck me most

about Tamara’s wonderful photograph was its resemblance to Norman Lindsay’s Galleon’s End – a personal favourite. Chris Bates-Brownsword, Cumberland Park, SA

Not spuds again

I always enjoy David Herbert’s recipes and his Crispy Confit Chicken caught my eye (May 18-19). Please let David know that I plan to cook the recipe once I’ve tracked down the 500 small waxy or chat potatoes. Chris White, Mt Coolum, Qld

Ed’s note: Apologies – it should have been 500g

Still searching

I loved Nikki Gemmell’s “Stop, look, listen” (May 18-19). Although I live in geographically isolated outback Queensland, so far removed from busy traffic and long queues, life still gets chaotically crazy. Her words will stay with me as I endeavour to find some stillness each day. I’m now also keen to investigate more of Mary Oliver’s poetry. Karen Emmott, Noonbah Stn via Longreach, Qld

Proud of our Xers

Like Bernard Salt, I have great admiration for Generation X (“X hits the spot”, May 18-19). Bernard describes the millennial generation as being the children of the boomers but a huge percentage of boomers are the parents of Generation X. We were the parents standing behind our Gen X children, encouraging them to gain a tertiary education – because free tertiary education for most boomers was not a reality. Be grateful for Gen X. They are the backbone of the country. We boomers know the country will be in safe hands with them. Robyn Mackenzie, Stanthorpe, Qld

Write to: [e-mail]; The Weekend Australian Magazine, GPO Box 4245, Sydney 2001. Letters must bear a full address and contact number.

Barbara Trehy of Armidale, NSW wins an initial necklace valued at $900 from Shannakian Fine Jewellery for writing May’s best letter.