Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 46


     
     1        imported from the Irish Republic.
 
     2   Q.   Is that the only place that you were told about or not?
              A.  He was referring to that particular point in time.
     3        I believe they may have taken from our sources, but I do
              not recall which they were, or how many there were.
     4
         Q.   When cows arrive at the abattoirs are some rejected as
     5        being too diseased or too unhygienic?
              A.  In the live animal you are required by law to
     6        slaughter the animal within 72 hours of arrival at the
              abattoir.  So they would not be rejected in as much as
     7        they would be rejected from the premises.
 
     8   Q.   Right.
              A.  However, if on postmortem inspection they were found
     9        unfit for human consumption, the carcass could be
              rejected.
    10
         Q.   Do you know if that is something that is quite standard in
    11        slaughterhouses, rejected carcasses?
              A.  Partial condemnation or rejection is common place, and
    12        it is a requirement in all abattoirs; there is an official
              meat inspector who is paid by the local authority to
    13        perform this job.
 
    14   Q.   When you say "partial", does that mean that one part of
              the cow would be rejected but the rest of it would be
    15        used?
              A.  Correct.
    16
         Q.   Do you happen to have any idea of the approximate
    17        prevalence that might be of percentage of cows coming into
              the slaughterhouse?
    18        A.  Offhand, no.  There is published information on this
              which should be available on various literature..
    19
         Q.   Did you ask abattoirs that you surveyed about the
    20        rejections at all?
              A.  No, I did not.
    21
         Q.   If we can move on to your statement?  Do you have a copy
    22        in front of you?  We are on page 10.
              A.  Yes.
    23
         Q.   Shall we go through plant A, the goads that were being
    24        used as the cattle came through the holding pens:  Would
              other cows be aware of the cows in front of them?  Are the
    25        cows separated at that point?
              A.  The cows are following one another --- 
    26 
         Q.   So if a goad was --- 
    27        A.  Typically.
 
    28   Q.   -- used and if the cow cried out, they would be aware of
              that?
    29        A.  They would.
 
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You are saying "cows" but we are talking
              about cattle generally now, however, are we?

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