CAN anyone tell me why we are seeing the wholesale slaughter of farm animals when there is a vaccine readily available which would stop the spread of foot and mouth disease?

Surely, it would be cheaper for the government to pay for mass vaccination of all cloven-hooved beasts than pay compensation for animals which are not infected. Also, why has there not been a compulsory vaccination in place anyway?

EILEEN EASTHAM, Milton Close, Darwen.