After many emails I have finally had a response from the Ministerial Contact Unit from my most recent email to Michael Gove. I never did receive any response from George Eustice which is why I took it to Mr Gove. Sadly the response from the MCU (and not Mr Gove himself) is the standard response that animals are covered by legislation and farmers are required to keep their animals "free from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and disease. Animals should not suffer fear or distress and should be free to express their normal behaviour". My own regular experience of seeing farm animals of many kinds, including those at auction markets and going to slaughter, tells me that this is far from the reality. With regards to farm animals kept outside I have seen first hand the discomfort, pain and sometimes death of animals exposed to the elements. Sadly there was no acknowledgement to the petition in the response. Please can I urge you to email, tweet and share this petition again. I think the next step is to take the petition in person to Michael Gove to at the least get acknowledgement that you all deserve for showing your concern for farm animals by signing this petition.