Day 066 - 14 Dec 94 - Page 56


     
     1        A.  Yes.
     2
     3   Q.   Presumably, the pig farming places that you have been to
     4        are places that supply pork for McDonald's products?
     5        A.  Yes.
     6
     7   Q.   Largely speaking?
     8        A.  Yes, with the exception in the US, there are some in
     9        Mexico.
    10
    11   Q.   Except, sorry?
    12        A.  With the exception of the US and Mexico, I have visited
    13        plants where they produce product for some other people,
    14        not for McDonald's.  That is prior to me joining
    15        McDonald's.
    16
    17   Q.   So it is part of your research?
    18        A.  Yes.
    19
    20   Q.   As far as you can, cast your mind back over the last three
    21        years or so to the farm supplying McDonald's with pigs or
    22        McDonald's suppliers with pigs:  Have you ever come across
    23        a farming establishment where you thought the pigs were
    24        distressed or ill-treated?
    25        A.  No, I have not.
    26
    27   Q.   Are pigs sociable animals?
    28        A.  Yes, they are very sociable animals.
    29
    30   Q.   At what age in the USA, for example, are pigs intended for
    31        human consumption weaned from their mothers?
    32        A.  It will vary but normally the normal role would be when
    33        they reach 40 kilograms.
    34
    35   Q.   Does the practice of tail docking -- do you know what that
    36        is?
    37        A.  Yes.
    38
    39   Q.   Does it take place in the United States?
    40        A.  In some areas, yes.
    41
    42   Q.   What about tooth clipping?
    43        A.  That too.
    44
    45   Q.   That too.  What are the reasons why those things are done
    46        in the United States?
    47        A.  The primary reason is because there are some breeds
    48        that sometimes have a tendency to bite the tails and the
    49        teeth are pulled so that they will not hurt their mothers.
    50 
    51   Q.   Are male pigs that are intended for the table castrated in 
    52        different parts of the world? 
    53        A.  In some areas of the world, yes, they are.
    54
    55   Q.   What is the reason why that is done?
    56        A.  There are a couple of reasons:  One, the main reason is
    57        so that the meat does not develop a strong flavour, and it
    58        is also to better control of the aggressiveness of the
    59        animal so it will not spend much time fighting with other
    60        boars.

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