I was interested to read the letter from Justin Kerswell of Viva! in last week's Chronicle ("If we all went vegetarian we could resist the chances of global pandemics taking hold").

In many instances their campaigns and crusades highlight many cruelties that need to be looked at and in some cases stopped.

In his letter, however, Justin claims that if we all went vegetarian it would save animals – in this instance – pigs.

Since pigs do not make very good pets I would suggest that if we did as he asked, and stopped consuming pork, ham, bacon, all pigs, whether the result of intensive animal farming or free-range farming, would have no value, serve no purpose and would all be slaughtered.

It would seem free-range pig farming is a reasonable method of breeding pigs for consumption. Macabre as that may seem to some, extinction is perhaps a far less attractive option, especially if you are a pig!

STAN FRITH Prior Park Road Bath