Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 53
1 layers concerned with the McDonald's system -- so you just
have to weigh up whether it is worth going into the egg
2 layers in any detail.
3 MR. MORRIS: Yes. Just Some general points about -----
A. Can I clarify a point before we start? Is it the
4 generalities of Oasters or is it the generality of egg
production?
5
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Wait and hear what the question is. I
6 have assumed it is a few general questions about what
happens at Oasters.
7
MR. MORRIS: Let us establish that first. The conditions at
8 Oasters, are they generally, from your memory, roughly
equivalent to the industry as a whole?
9 A. Yes.
10 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Are Oasters pretty typical or not?
A. Yes, they are. In terms of welfare, you are talking
11 about?
12 MR. MORRIS: Yes, in welfare?
A. In terms of welfare, yes. In terms of company
13 structure, no.
14 Q. It is true chickens are kept in battery cages, is it not?
A. Yes.
15
Q. With no freedom of movement?
16 A. They can walk about the cage.
17 Q. Right. No access to fresh air and sunshine?
A. They do not have any access to out of doors which is
18 normal practice for battery hens.
19 Q. Do you know how many chickens are kept in a cage,
approximately?
20 A. If my memory serves my right, it is five.
21 Q. How large is the cage compared to an A4 sheet of paper?
A. I do not recall what it was for them, but when I did
22 the measurements and did the calculations I believe they
were within the code of practice of 450 square centimetres
23 per bird.
24 Q. Could you just how much would that be compared -- so it
would be smaller than an A4 sheet of paper per bird?
25 A. That is likely, yes.
26 Q. Could you just briefly from your experience summarise what
you feel the welfare problems are to do with the battery
27 system?
A. It is a limitation on the ability of the bird to
28 express normal behaviour patterns and, in particular,
those associated with nesting, dust bathing, running,
29 flapping of wings and running, walking, turning round,
stretching both their wings and their necks.
30
Q. What about ----
