Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 84


     
     1
     2   Q.   Yes.
     3        A.  Two to three years.
     4
     5   Q.   Did he have a predecessor, do you know?
     6        A.  No, I do not think so.
     7
     8   Q.   What was the reason for the decision to give somebody an
     9        animal welfare responsibility, a specific animal welfare
    10        responsibility?
    11        A.  I think the -----
    12
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you know, first of all?
    14
    15   MR. RAMPTON:  Do you know, yes?
    16        A.  I do not know the exact reasons for giving somebody
    17        that position, no.
    18
    19   Q.   You have been there 10 years -- perhaps this is a more
    20        sensible question -- has the conferring of that particular
    21        responsibility on that person made a significant difference
    22        to the welfare conditions of the animals at Midland Meat or
    23        not?
    24        A.  Not having poor welfare conditions beforehand, I do not
    25        think it has been too significant.
    26
    27   Q.   Was there a sudden leap forward from the animal's point of
    28        view?
    29        A.  No.
    30
    31   Q.   What differences, changes, improvements, if any, have been
    32        made in the last four or five years so far as animal
    33        welfare is concerned?
    34        A.  Quite a considerable number of changes to the layout of
    35        our lairage.  In fact, we are just about start a new
    36        project with a new lairage, a larger lairage, where
    37        obviously a lot of animal welfare considerations have been
    38        taken into account in the design of it.
    39
    40   Q.   What sort of things?
    41        A.  We are trying to get away from loading down ramps which
    42        is the first and foremost.  We are going to have loading
    43        docks and they can just walk out on a level platform.
    44        There is a lot of research being done to show that a curved
    45        race can improve or do away with the need for as much
    46        droving of cattle, so we are looking at that as well.
    47
    48   Q.   So cattle are not spooked by going around blind corners?
    49        A.  As far as I gather, cattle are actually more inclined
    50        to walk round a bend. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Really?  Following the tail in front, as it were? 
    53        A.  I think it is some sort of curiosity thing, I am not
    54        quite sure.
    55
    56   Q.   There is something I wanted to pick up.  You have talked
    57        about installing loading docks above ground, that is, above
    58        ground level so they can walk straight out when they come
    59        off the top layer or even off the bottom layer, I suppose?
    60        A.  Yes.

Prev Next Index