Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 54
1 Firstly, it is the number of animals involved; secondly,
it is the intensity of suffering and, thirdly, it is the
2 duration of suffering. It is a product of those three
things.
3
So where one has a general statement like this, it
4 immediately raises the question: What particular aspects
are they considering? Are they considering the prevalence
5 of a disease or disorder? Now, many people in animal
welfare science would consider that one of the main
6 welfare problems in dairy industry is laminitis.
7 Q. Laminitis?
A. That is a form of lameness for the dairy cow.
8
Q. At what sort average age of onset?
9 A. That varies considerably between environmental
situations. Now, in this country I would not like to say
10 when it happens. It is usually associated with the
conditions in which the cows are exposed, like wet
11 conditions under foot, if it has to trample through silage
effluent which is particularly acidic; it can be
12 associated with nutrition prior to calving and during -- a
sudden change, increase in the plane of nutrition at
13 calving; it can be a metabolic acidosis leading to a
secondary laminitis.
14
Accepting that is an important welfare problem in the
15 dairy industry, if this is what is being implied in this
particular comment, then we have to consider in greater
16 depth what is actually meant. Firstly, what is the
prevalence to the number of cows? What is the intensity
17 of suffering and what is the duration of suffering? So
I think we need to be a bit more substantial in the
18 comment about a great deal of suffering.
19 Q. Or a bit more specific?
A. I think that is a better terminology, yes, thank you.
20
Q. What I was going to ask you is this: If, in due course,
21 it should emerge more clearly what the defendants mean by,
either through or one of their witnesses, should we
22 address communication to you in New Zealand for comment or
would it be more appropriate for us to go back to Bristol
23 and find another person who used to be a part of your
team?
24 A. I would be happy for you to go back to other people at
Bristol. I would recommended particular people in this
25 respect too.
26 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do not do it at this stage.
27 MR. RAMPTON: There is no need to do it now. I was only asking
about the future conduct.
28 A. But if you want to drag me across the world, I will
come!
29
Q. Then, please, turn to page 4 of this document. Look at
30 the fourth paragraph ---
A. Yes.
