Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 31
1 Mr. Bowes. Apart from looking out for strains of pigs
2 which do it less than others, what other methods can be
3 employed to reduce or minimise tail biting or the effects
4 of it, I should say?
5 A. Tail docking, sir.
6
7 Q. Tail docking. Do you do any tail docking at G.D. Bowes &
8 Sons?
9 A. Again that is left to the discretion of the individual
10 unit manager. They are the experts and we do not do them
11 all by any means, but if it is deemed necessary it is done.
12
13 Q. What about teeth clipping?
14 A. Teeth clipping, yes, a very controversial area.
15
16 Q. Why is it controversial?
17 A. There are arguments it is not necessary, but in Norfolk
18 we actually refer to teeth as razor or needle teeth.
19
20 Q. Razor or needle teeth?
21 A. Yes. We believe it is much kinder to take those teeth
22 out from the little pigs so that they do not damage the
23 sow's teats because if they damage the sow's teats, you can
24 get mastitis, the milk can stop, the flow, etcetera, and
25 all sorts of problems so as to the detriment of the pig or
26 the piglet, I should say.
27
28 Q. Unlike human babies, do they have these teeth from the
29 minute they are born, born with them?
30 A. Yes, they do. Yes, they do. In saying that, sir, I do
31 believe that there are some human babies that are born with
32 teeth and that is a difficulty.
33
34 MR. JUSTICE BELL: But is this just some teeth in some piglets
35 or -----
36 A. Again it is left to the discretion of the manager, sir,
37 and on inspection he will decide whether it is necessary or
38 not. There is a variation. He does have to clip them with
39 a very sharp instrument or clippers and it is done very
40 instantaneously, with very little problem to the pig.
41
42 MR. RAMPTON: At what age, generally speaking?
43 A. In between 24 and 48 hours.
44
45 Q. I see. What about tail docking?
46 A. Done at the same time if they consider it to be
47 necessary.
48
49 Q. Do you castrate any of your male piglets?
50 A. No, sir -- lucky pigs.
51
52 Q. What?
53 A. Lucky pigs.
54
55 Q. Can I go back to where I think we more or less got to in
56 the slaughterhouse? Before I do that, I want to ask you
57 this:
58 You seem to set by your evidence (and by the evidence of
59 Dr. Gregory) a lot of store on the careful and thoughtful
60 handling of your pigs; is that right?
