Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 67


     
     1        as to whether it is true in the case of Sun Valley.
 
     2   Q.   In fact, actually Mark Pattison says there is one OVS in
              attendance on the site ---
     3
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I was thinking of his statement.
     4
         MS. STEEL:  -- to observe a slaughter.  So there is one person,
     5        there is one OVS observing the slaughter?
              A.  No, not the whole time, but he is there to observe it
     6        as and when he so decides.
 
     7   Q.   Right.  So there is just one person to watch the birds
              being killed?
     8        A.  There is one person whose job is to do the backup neck
              cutting.  So for those birds which miss the automatic
     9        killer, he then in the case of this plant cuts the whole
              head off.  His duties may extend to observing what goes on
    10        further up the line in terms -- particularly in the area
              of stunning.
    11
         Q.   Right, so he OVS -----
    12        A.  At this particular plant I think that is the case.  If
              I remember rightly, that man was supervising the stunner
    13        to see if there were any problems.  If there were problems
              he would either call somebody to rectify it, or attempt to
    14        rectify it himself.
 
    15   Q.   So the OVS has quite a lot to keep his eye on?
              A.  That is true.
    16
         Q.   When you made your second visit, the killing line speed?
    17        A.  Was 87 birds per minute.
 
    18   Q.   Yes.  When you made the first visit it was twice that
              speed?
    19        A.  That is correct.
 
    20   Q.   So, realistically, the OVS cannot really hope to keep an
              eye on more than a tiny percentage of the birds in terms
    21        of their welfare really?
              A.  I understand your question.  The policy or philosophy,
    22        should I say, in running this type of operation is to
              check that the system is working rather than to do
    23        individual bird inspection.  So there has to be a general
              appraisal that the stunning is working satisfactorily,
    24        that the neck cutting is working satisfactorily, then the
              inspector would go on to another of his inspecting duties.
    25
         Q.   But, effectively, there is not really anyone whose 
    26        specific job it is to keep an eye on the welfare of each 
              and every bird all the time? 
    27        A.  No, that would be physically impossible under that
              situation without an inordinate number of staff.
    28
         Q.   Do you consider that it is cruel not to stun animals
    29        before they are killed?
              A.  I do not use the word "cruel" or "cruelty" when it
    30        comes to my profession.
 

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