Day 113 - 03 Apr 95 - Page 43
1 particular concern over the last 10 years has been how to
2 deal with casualty animals, fallen stock, as they are
3 called. It is particularly appropriate in the dairy beef
4 because, you see, if a cow who is very heavy and ungainly
5 goes down, breaks a bone, cannot get up, she is called a
6 downer cow.
7
8 Q. How often does that happen?
9 A. It happens quite frequently in dairy herds. I suppose
10 one in 500, but it is a major welfare problem, because if
11 the farmer has the knacker in and knackers the cow, then
12 she is only worthwhile going to the local hunt or something
13 like that. He may not even get the money to take her
14 away. He may have to pay to take her away.
15
16 So, he is very much interested in getting that animal to
17 slaughterhouse where he might get £450 or £500. It makes
18 that much difference. If the animal is suffering, then you
19 have to consider very much the welfare aspect.
20
21 Some years ago there were cases of animals being winched on
22 to lorries, pulled along by the winch on to the lorry, in
23 order to race them to the slaughterhouse. Now, the animal
24 welfare groups, all of them, including the British
25 Veterinary Association, have tightened up on this in the
26 last few years, largely as pressure from the animal welfare
27 groups. Now, with the European Union, this has achieved
28 some effect, so that is one major item of welfare. We have
29 still have concerns but something has happened.
30
31 Q. Which is sick or diseased ---
32 A. Yes.
33
34 Q. -- or a damaged animal.
35
36 MR. JUSTICE BELL: As I understand it, that would mean that the
37 animal cannot stand or has some difficulty in doing so by
38 the time it arrives at the slaughterhouse?
39 A. Yes, it should be accompanied by a veterinary
40 certificate for two reasons; one, it is fit to travel
41 without undue pain and, second -----
42
43 Q. But that would or should be apparent to an observer when it
44 arrives at the slaughterhouse, should it not?
45 A. It should be and, in fact, it has sometimes meant that
46 actions have had to be taken further back. It is rather
47 late, as far as the animal is concerned, but this has
48 resulted in prosecutions going back to the farmer who has
49 let such an animal come in.
50
51 MR. MORRIS: Let us just step back a bit. Is there a general
52 problem that some of the cattle transported will be sick or
53 diseased or whatever?
54 A. Well ----
55
56 Q. Or become ----
57 A. As it happens, I am telling you what has happened now
58 is that the farmer would have to get a vet's certificate
59 for two reasons; one is that the animal is fit enough to be
60 taken in in certain circumstances and, secondly, that in
