Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 41
1 A. People will be able to detect when she has dropped and
2 ready to go into labour about two days beforehand.
3
4 Q. About two days, and then she stays in there to recover
5 after having had the piglets; is that it?
6 A. Sorry, sir, say that again?
7
8 Q. Sorry, she stays in there to recover, as it were, after
9 having had the piglets?
10 A. Oh, yes.
11
12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: She stays in there until they are weaned,
13 does she?
14 A. That is correct.
15
16 MR. RAMPTON: Yes. Could you turn past your statement, please,
17 Mr. Bowes, to the freedom food document from the RSPCA
18 dated 20th September last year?
19 A. Yes, I have it, sir.
20
21 Q. It is called: "Freedom Food, the RSPCA Welfare Standards
22 for Pigs". In the light of the questions I have asked and
23 you have answered, I do not need to go through it with you,
24 though the Defendants may wish to do so, I know not. Did
25 your company have any input into the creation of this code?
26 A. The answer to that is, yes, sir.
27
28 Q. This particular version which appears to be the second
29 version of the first version, if you see what I mean, it is
30 version 1.2, dated 20th September 1994, was your company in
31 discussion with the RSPCA before this was produced?
32 A. Yes. We were in discussion with John Prince of the
33 RSPCA. I would think discussions have been going on --
34 time goes fast -- I would think for two years in
35 preparation for it.
36
37 Q. Did the RSPCA visit your premises?
38 A. Many times, sir.
39
40 Q. Did the RSPCA express themselves pleased with or angry
41 about the conditions that they found at your farm, at your
42 factory and on your farms?
43 A. I would say they were. They have definitely based the
44 freedom food scheme upon our system because they have found
45 that very, very acceptable to their needs.
46
47 MR. MORRIS: I do not know if Mr. Rampton is aware of the
48 hearsay rules.
49
50 MR. RAMPTON: It is nothing to do with hearsay, my Lord.
51
52 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It may be but why do you say that?
53
54 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, because what matters is whether
55 Mr. Bowes' operation meets the approval -----
56
57 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I understand that and he can be asked how his
58 system compares with that in the -----
59
60 MR. RAMPTON: Yes, my Lord, if it be the fact that this document
