Day 089 - 15 Feb 95 - Page 21


     
     1        A.  They had not raised any objection to it.
     2
     3   Q.   If MAFF said:  "Hoi, we do not think your stunning current
     4        is strong enough, given our guidelines on the slaughter of
     5        poultry", if they had ever said that, would you know about
     6        that?
     7        A.  Yes, we certainly would and this was really the reason
     8        that we made sure that they were present for the occasion
     9        of Dr. Gregory's visit because we were aware that the
    10        equipment did not actually meet the MAFF guidelines in
    11        terms of the current that it delivered, but we wanted the
    12        MAFF officials to see it, to show them that it did actually
    13        do the job effectively.
    14
    15   Q.   Did they seem satisfied with what they had seen?
    16        A.  They were satisfied with that and, on that basis, they
    17        were prepared to give us a derogation from working to the
    18        official code of practice.
    19
    20   Q.   Had they seen the old system in operation as well?
    21        A.  Yes, they had -- many times.
    22
    23   Q.   Had they ever expressed and reservation about its efficacy
    24        and its practice?
    25        A.  No, they had not.
    26
    27   Q.   If they said:  "This is not good enough" and you did not
    28        comply, would that represent any danger to your licence?
    29        A.  Yes, it would.  I mean, we would not be allowed to run
    30        our factory with stunning equipment which was not
    31        effective.
    32
    33   Q.   So, a failure of welfare can disqualify you for your
    34        licence, can it?
    35        A.  Absolutely.
    36
    37   Q.   In relation to welfare, and for the time that you have been
    38        at Sun Valley, has your licence ever been threatened in
    39        that way?
    40        A.  No, it has not.
    41
    42   Q.   Would you expect to get a warning or fore-notice if there
    43        were faults or criticisms observed by MAFF or by the OVS?
    44        A.  Yes, normally we get, if there is anything
    45        unsatisfactory, they would normally warn us and tell us
    46        exactly what we have to do to rectify the problem.
    47        Normally, that can be, that is just part of day-to-day
    48        practice.
    49
    50   Q.   The difference in current, however, that you use as against 
    51        the MAFF guideline is built into your system, is it not? 
    52        A.  It is built into the system, yes. 
    53
    54   Q.   They know about it?
    55        A.  And they know about it.
    56
    57   Q.   Can we go back, as I promised a moment ago we would, to the
    58        preconception stage of broiler chickens.  From what sort of
    59        stock are broilers bred?
    60        A.  We keep broiler "breeders", as we call them, which are

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