Day 089 - 15 Feb 95 - Page 41


     
     1
     2   MR. RAMPTON:  Before we leave the growing shed and move by
     3        transport to the plant, how many people during the 42 or
     4        the 52 days would be responsible for the welfare of the
     5        birds in a particular shed?
     6        A.  On particular farms, the normal, on most farms, it
     7        depends on the size, we would have a staff of two or three
     8        people, normally one person is allocated to look after each
     9        shed, and  they would be covered by the other people on the
    10        farms.  So, maybe two or thee people, you could say.
    11
    12   Q.   What about veterinary attention?
    13        A.  Veterinary attention is only given when called for
    14        either in the form of a visit or, if they wish to, if they
    15        have an unusual mortality, they would bring birds in for a
    16        postmortem examination and diagnosis.
    17
    18   Q.   You mentioned earlier about the stockman walking the sheds,
    19        yes?
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   When the birds are little I foresee that there is, perhaps,
    23        not much problem about that, but what about when the birds
    24        are getting near maximum weight?  Does he have to be
    25        careful not to tread on them?
    26        A.  They do have to be careful not to tread on but, on the
    27        other hand, it is not to difficult to do.  The birds do --
    28        they still have plenty of room to move in front of the man
    29        as he walks the shed.
    30
    31   Q.   How often during the day will he do that?
    32        A.  Four or five times normally.
    33
    34   Q.   What is he looking for?
    35        A.  He is looking for abnormal, well, first of all, he
    36        would pick up any dead.  He would be looking for any signs
    37        of abnormality in the birds, whether they look fit and
    38        healthy.  He would be looking for signs of disease.  He
    39        will also be looking at the drinker height, the feeder
    40        height, whether the ventilation is good or bad -- all these
    41        kind of things.
    42
    43   Q.   It has a very strong smell, so I suppose he would be able
    44        to tell if there was too much ammonia in the house?
    45        A.  Yes, ammonia, fortunately, because it has a strong
    46        smell, it is easy to detect when conditions are
    47        unsatisfactory.
    48
    49   Q.   I know this is a difficult question -----
    50 
    51   MR. MORRIS:  That last question was a completely leading 
    52        question. 
    53
    54   MR. RAMPTON:  Of course it was but everyone knows that ammonia
    55        smells.
    56
    57   MR. MORRIS:  It might not.  I mean, the witness should be asked,
    58        is there anything else he looks for?
    59
    60   MR. RAMPTON:  No, no.

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