Day 102 - 13 Mar 95 - Page 40
1 the year.
2
3 Q. The ones in the middle of the lorries do not get much air,
4 do they?
5 A. Well, the central crates, we feel that -- obviously, in
6 the winter time we have side partitions, side sheets and
7 side partitions, to the crates. In the summer those are
8 removed to allow air flow through the complete load. So,
9 in the summer there is a lot more air can circulate through
10 than in the winter when it is not so required.
11
12 Q. But the ones in the middle will not get much air, will
13 they?
14 A. They get sufficient air.
15
16 Q. Have you looked into creating a vertical space down the
17 centre of the lorry load?
18 A. We have looked at that.
19
20 Q. That is a recommendation made by the Farm Animal Welfare
21 Council, is it not?
22 A. There is a recommendation that way, yes.
23
24 Q. But you have not taken it up?
25 A. No, we have not. We did not feel it was necessary.
26
27 Q. Is this something else that you do not feel applies to Sun
28 Valley?
29 A. Well, the system, the Anglia auto flow system, was
30 designed originally in a way which did not cater for a
31 central area because it was not found to be necessary.
32
33 Q. Having a central area would improve ventilation, would it
34 not?
35 A. Yes, it probably would.
36
37 Q. Is the reason why you have not implemented having a central
38 area commercial considerations?
39 A. It is because we did not feel it was necessary.
40
41 Q. Because it would cost too much to implement?
42 A. I cannot really see that it would actually cost any
43 more, but you would have to redesign the system to do it.
44
45 Q. Which would cost you money?
46 A. That would cost money, but we did not feel it was
47 necessary.
48
49 Q. Can you explain why something that the Farm Animal Welfare
50 Council recommends should not apply to your birds?
51 A. Well, as I recall, it was in a transport -- a document
52 that they published on transport which was a recommendation
53 that the industry look at that possibility. They were not
54 necessarily saying that it was a requirement; they
55 suggested it as something that the industry should look
56 at. We have looked at it and we did not feel it was
57 necessary.
58
59 Q. How long have you had the Anglia auto flow system?
60 A. It has been a long time now; I think probably since the
