Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 30


     
     1        which will fulfil that requirement, that condition?
     2        A.  Most slaughterhouses now, the actual unloading dock, is
     3        at the same level of the average height of the truck.  So,
     4        in all modern, efficient slaughterhouses now, instead of
     5        the cattle going down a ramp, they are walking out level.
     6        That is the first point.  The second point is that you do
     7        not want any right angled bends; you want smooth curves if
     8        cattle have to go around corners.
     9
    10   Q.   Why is undesirable for them to go around corners?
    11        A.  Well, because if you are trying to drive animals --
    12        I spoke a moment ago about steers and heifers -- if they
    13        cannot see where they are going, they do not want to go.
    14        But if they are just following a curved rail, they will
    15        walk around it quite naturally, if that is the right word.
    16
    17   Q.   We see that the second item says:  "Use of goads
    18        prohibited".  Do you know why, in view of your own personal
    19        view about ------
    20        A.  That is a McDonald's requirement.  It is one of the few
    21        requirements I do not agree with.
    22
    23   Q.   The third item says:  "Adequate holding in pens for
    24        livestock".  What does the word "adequate" means?
    25        A.  It means it is a matter of the space available for the
    26        number of beasts in the pen.  That is usually taken as five
    27        foot by ten foot per animal.
    28
    29   Q.   Then 4:  "Layerage to be clean and well-ventilated".
    30        Perhaps that speaks for itself?
    31        A.  Yes.
    32
    33   Q.   5 is:  "Minimum holding of livestock overnight".  What is
    34        the reason for that requirement?
    35        A.  Well, I mean, you do not really want to hold any
    36        livestock overnight other than enough for the abattoir to
    37        start the following morning.  Then by the time they have
    38        got going, you know, fresh supplies start arriving.
    39
    40   Q.   Yes.
    41        A.  On the point 4, if could I come back to that one, sir?
    42
    43   Q.   Sorry?
    44        A.  On point 4, if I may come back to that one?  In more
    45        and more layerages today cattle and pigs are being kept
    46        under a constant tepid shower again to cool them down and
    47        make them feel comfortable.
    48
    49   Q.   Will the temperature of that shower vary according to
    50        whether it is winter or summer or not? 
    51        A.  No.  It is just tepid; it is not ice cold and it is not 
    52        hot. 
    53
    54   Q.   The next two are "effective stunning" and "shackling".
    55        Then we move on to considerations which do not bear on
    56        animal welfare because -- I think I am right about this --
    57        by this time, or very shortly afterwards, the animal is
    58        dead; is that right?
    59        A.  Yes.
    60

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