Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 57
1 concentrate and it feeds them well. It is a matter of
2 choice. The blend and the mixture is a matter of choice
3 and you select the feed mill that does what you want, the
4 brand the name which you want.
5
6 Q. Soya feed is a good quality component of a concentrate,
7 yes?
8 A. No, it is not because it is too expensive; it makes the
9 concentrate too expensive. Soya is very expensive.
10
11 Q. But it is used in feed concentrates?
12 A. More in pigs than in cattle interestingly enough.
13
14 Q. What, in England or in Britain?
15 A. Yes.
16
17 Q. You have seen that, have you?
18 A. I have seen formulae with soya in them.
19
20 Q. Would that include McDonald's suppliers?
21 A. No.
22
23 Q. So is the only problem the expensiveness of the soya? The
24 actual usefulness, it is useful, is it?
25 A. Yes, it is a source of protein.
26
27 Q. Mr. Oakley said that they had no policy against using soya
28 feed as a component in feed. So what is the problem for
29 the use of it? Is it just purely economic?
30 A. I did not say there was a problem. I said it was a
31 matter of choice whether you used soya in feed, and it is
32 an economic choice. I mean if you say Mr. Oakley says
33 that, there is no objection to it. I have no comment to
34 make on that.
35
36 Q. So if suppliers to you for McDonald's, say to Milton Keynes
37 plant, wished to use soya feed, that is their decision, it
38 is not a problem?
39 A. Yes. Bear in mind there is nothing cheaper in North
40 West Europe than grass.
41
42 Q. So that would apply throughout Europe for everyone that you
43 buy from, any country you buy from, it is entirely up to
44 them what feed they use?
45 A. If you are asking me of all the cattle that we would
46 use do we know the feed rations that those cattle are on,
47 be it in Ireland, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales, I do
48 not know.
49
50 Q. I am not asking you to do the impossible.
51
52 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let us just pause a moment. It sounds to me
53 as if you do not know if any of the farms which have raised
54 cattle which have gone to abattoirs which have then
55 supplied you with beef, ditto pigs, have used soya in any
56 part of their feed of the cattle or pigs?
57 A. It is impossible for me to know, my Lord.
58
59 Q. The fact is what you say, and you do not know?
60 A. I do not know.
