Pregnant pigs treated humanely

The vegan proselytizers at Mercy for Animals, PETA, and the Humane Society of the United States have propaganda campaigns claiming that housing pregnant pigs in individual maternity pens is inhumane, but their shrill screeds aren't backed up by veterinarians. ("Glen Burnie Walmart shoppers to be confronted with giant, bloodied, inflatable pig," Sept. 18).

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians finds that individual housing is a humane method, and the American Veterinary Medical Association finds that maternity pens provide for animal welfare. Housing pregnant pigs individually allows for individual care and prevents fighting among the animals for dominance for food that occurs when they are housed in groups.

Animal rights activists hope to prey on urban residents' lack of hands-on experience raising pigs by describing farm operations as inhumane. But when it comes to animal welfare, we should trust veterinarians' advice over vegan campaigners.

Rick Berman, Washington, D.C.

The writer is executive director of the Center for Consumer Freedom.