Day 096 - 03 Mar 95 - Page 66
1 Q. You said that you were asked to go in order to advise this
2 particular unit or whatever you call it, plant on animal
3 welfare matters?
4 A. That is correct.
5
6 Q. What particular aspects of pig welfare were they interested
7 in having your advice about?
8 A. Everything from the concept, if you like, from
9 conception through to the final consumer package. We were
10 asked questions anywhere from animal production, sow
11 production, pig production, pig stunning, design of the
12 lairage, the whole concept right the way through.
13
14 Q. How did it come about that you were asked to do that job?
15 Did it just come out of the blue?
16 A. No. It came quite simply because we were recognised to
17 be one of the most progressive companies in Europe on
18 animal welfare and the production thereof into consumer
19 packs.
20
21 Q. That was known to the Americans, was it?
22 A. Yes, via a breeding company in this country which had
23 an interest in both sides of the Atlantic.
24
25 Q. Finally two things only, Mr. Bowes. There was a time when
26 your company did, as necessary, use goads to load pigs from
27 the field or the house or whatever it was to go to the
28 house or the slaughterhouse?
29 A. Yes.
30
31 Q. Remind, please, because I am afraid I have forgotten, how
32 long ago that happened?
33 A. When we last used goads?
34
35 Q. Yes, when you last used goads.
36 A. I would have said five, six years ago, something like
37 that.
38
39 Q. You said that your decision to abandon their use was in
40 some sense a reaction or response to consumer or a result
41 of your consumer awareness or a reaction or response to
42 what I think you called consumer whims?
43 A. Yes, that is correct.
44
45 Q. May I ask you this. Remind us, please, how long you have
46 been in pigs, if I may use that shorthand?
47 A. Since I have left school in 1952, sir.
48
49 Q. During the period of 1952 to five or six years ago, were
50 goads habitually used as necessary?
51 A. Yes, and I personally do not think that they would --
52 goads are banned, you mentioned the word I used before
53 "consumer whim", a goad can at times be an extreme
54 advantage in helping with moving pigs.
55
56 Q. You are slightly ahead of me.
57 A. I beg your pardon.
58
59 Q. I was going to ask you that second, so I will not ask two
60 questions, I will ask one. So far as your observations
