Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 56


     
     1        guillotine mechanism and then there is a curtain above
     2        that.
     3
     4   Q.   So the waiting animal cannot see the animal being stunned?
     5        A.  No.
     6
     7   Q.   When the animal has been stunned it falls down into sort of
     8        a trap door or something, does it?
     9        A.  It falls over -- the floor in the stunning pen is
    10        sloping and then another door opens, thus the animal rolls
    11        out.
    12
    13   Q.   Then is it shackled?
    14        A.  Yes.
    15
    16   Q.   And hoisted?
    17        A.  That is right.
    18
    19   Q.   Then it goes round and somebody sticks it; is that right.
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   We will have a look at a plan in a moment, not your plan,
    23        but we will have a look in a moment.  Can the animal in the
    24        stunning pen see the animal in front of being stuck or not?
    25        A.  No.
    26
    27   Q.   How do you react to this statement -- again it is not mine
    28        but it is a quotation -- "Cattle become frantic as they
    29        watch the animal before them in the killing line being
    30        prodded, beaten, electrocuted and knifed"?  Would you like
    31        comment on that assertion?
    32        A.  The animal cannot see any of that happening.
    33
    34   Q.   Have you ever seen your animals becoming frantic as they
    35        await the stunning?
    36        A.  Not frantic, not really, no, and sometimes they do not
    37        wish to go into the stunning box, but it is the same as if
    38        you are trying to put an animal through a gate, I suppose.
    39
    40   Q.   Going back to this document which is in front of us:
    41        "Ensure that animals have no means of escaping from
    42        passageways etc."  Do you your animals have any means of
    43        escape from the race as they come up to the stunning pen?
    44        A.  No.
    45
    46   Q.   The concrete on the sides, is it solid?  It is a solid wall
    47        construction?
    48        A.  Yes.
    49
    50   Q.   Can the humans look over and see the animals within? 
    51        A.  Yes, they can.  The cattle are actually below the 
    52        people. 
    53
    54   Q.   Will there always be -- I think you called him a drover --
    55        a drover behind the animals that are coming up the race?
    56        A.  Yes.
    57
    58   Q.   Then it says:  "Never use excessive force if animals are
    59        reluctant to move".  Then it says:  "Never use an electric
    60        goad on any animal unless its use on the hindquarters of

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