Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 48


     
     1
     2   Q.   You mentioned that you used a high cycle system?
     3        A.  That is correct.
     4
     5   Q.   What does that mean?
     6        A.  I am not an electrician, sir.
     7
     8   Q.   No, nor am I.
     9        A.  But I am told, if I can try to explain how it has been
    10        explained to me, that the current, instead of the normal 50
    11        peaks as it travels, it actually peaks 1800 times in a
    12        second.
    13
    14   Q.   Can I ask you this:  On best veterinarian and scientific
    15        advice, are you satisfied that these figures in the range
    16        of, say, from 1.34 amps down to 1.1, are adequate to
    17        achieve an efficient stun of your pigs?
    18        A.  From my experience of when I have actually worked in
    19        the stunning pen to seeing the present day facilities, I am
    20        satisfied that we are using the best possible means at
    21        present.
    22
    23   Q.   If you thought there was a risk that your pigs were not
    24        adequately stunned so that there was a risk of they might
    25        still be sensible by the time they reached the stick, would
    26        you do something about it?
    27        A.  Yes, but in this case there is nothing and there is no
    28        need to consider that because ----
    29
    30   Q.  -- I was going to ask you whether you have found, in the
    31        course of any of this research, any reason to think that
    32        your systems need revising?
    33        A.  No, we have not, and it is also, as I have just
    34        repeated, been monitored by our vets again to verify that
    35        situation.
    36
    37   Q.   One thing finally, the RSPCA recommendation, and I can give
    38        you the page reference if you go back to the feed document
    39        on page 15, which is at the bottom of the page, it is part
    40        of the Welfare of Slaughter Standards, Humane Slaughter
    41        Standards?
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   Standard at the bottom of the page: "J.3.4:  The Freedom
    45        Food Standard.  No animal is to be stunned unless it is
    46        possible to be stunned immediately afterwards when the stun
    47        stick time, that means the time between stun and stick, not
    48        to exceed 15 seconds"; do you see that?
    49        A.  Yes, I do.
    50 
    51   Q.   When Dr. Gregory was at your establishment, he measured an 
    52        average, I think, of 18 seconds between stun and stick.  Is 
    53        that something that gives you any concern?
    54        A.  No, not under our conditions of stunning.
    55
    56   Q.   Finally -- actually that was my penultimate question, this
    57        is my final question.  Turn to the very last page in the
    58        document, please?
    59        A.  "Freedom Food?"
    60

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