Day 066 - 14 Dec 94 - Page 69


     
     1        Those are the only things that enter a growing house.  So,
     2        the feed is processed and is treated with heat to produce
     3        pellets or a ground feed.  The steam will kill the
     4        bacteria.  Those are the major areas of concern for the
     5        farmer, as well as the control of the environment.  So, it
     6        is very important for them to control the environment so
     7        that the environment/index.html">litter or the bedding where the feed is laid, the
     8        chickens lay, are supported, it is dry and clean and free
     9        from any potential bacteria.
    10
    11   Q.   I was going to ask you about environment/index.html">litter but, as usual, you are
    12        ahead of me.  The environment/index.html">litter in this country, we know, in a
    13        growing house is cleaned out only after the batch has been
    14        removed and taken on to be slaughtered.  Is it the same in
    15        other places?
    16        A.  That is correct.
    17
    18   Q.   Does the fact that the excrement of the chickens remain
    19        with them during the time, the 42 or 52 days, they are
    20        there, does that present any kind of a welfare problem so
    21        far as the chickens are concerned?
    22        A.  No, I do not think so.
    23
    24   Q.   What do farmers in the States use for environment/index.html">litter?
    25        A.  They use whatever is mostly is available to them, but
    26        in general you can make the assumption that it is common
    27        throughout the world that they use some kind of wood, it
    28        could be wood chips or dust.
    29
    30   Q.   Shavings?
    31        A.  Or shavings or rice ball.
    32
    33   Q.   Paper?
    34        A.  It could be paper, yes.
    35
    36   Q.   Let me ask you first this question.  I want to broaden it
    37        until I come back to the broilers in a minute.  The
    38        administration of antibiotics to animals, is that a routine
    39        practice throughout the world?
    40        A.  In most countries, yes, it is, and it is done for
    41        basically the same purpose.  If a small chick is sick it is
    42        treated with antibiotics.  That is a very critical stage
    43        within the first few days where the chick is most
    44        susceptible to diseases, primarily coming from respiratory
    45        diseases that are caused to all of us, being exposed to a
    46        new environment.  Antibiotics are used sometimes also as a
    47        preventative measure to make sure they do not get sick.
    48        All of the antibiotics that are used are approved even for
    49        human usage.  There is a period that is determined by law
    50        that the birds will not be subjected to those antibiotics, 
    51        a withdrawal period. 
    52 
    53   Q.   What about pigs and cows?
    54        A.  In cows it used to be a practice, not any more, the
    55        same for pigs, I am not aware of our people doing it in
    56        pigs but I know that in some cases it is the case that they
    57        are being used as a preventative method.
    58
    59   Q.   What about the use, and again I am broadening it to animals
    60        generally, of growth promoting hormones?  It is not allowed

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