Day 113 - 03 Apr 95 - Page 49


     
     1   Q.   Is there anything that we have missed out up to the point
     2        of stunning that you wanted to add?
     3        A.  I think you have covered most of the points from the
     4        welfare side and probably the hygiene as well.
     5
     6   Q.   Can you describe what your concerns are, from a welfare
     7        point of view, of the killing procedure that is standard in
     8        the abattoirs that you have seen?
     9        A.  Generally speaking, the use of the captive bolt (and
    10        I think you have had that explained, I should think, ad
    11        nauseam so I will not go over all that again), I would be
    12        concerned that the instrument is an approved sort, is
    13        powerful enough for cattle, if we are slaughtering cattle,
    14        rather than, say, sheep.
    15
    16   Q.   When you go through this, just say things which you have
    17        seen that you believe are standard or are of significant
    18        prevalence that worry you as regards welfare; not just are
    19        they, but the ones that you have seen, have they been badly
    20        used or have they been not sufficient or whatever.
    21        A.  That is a thing or an omission, precautions, that
    22        I have observed.  There should always be (and sometimes is
    23        not) a backup pistol because in frequent use the captive
    24        bolt pistol gets very hot if it is of that sort, a certain
    25        sort and, therefore, if that system is going to be used you
    26        need a backup.
    27
    28        I have seen captive bolt pistols which are the right sort
    29        but get gunged up with a lot of muck in them, so that
    30        actually the bolt is not coming out at the required
    31        velocity.  You probably know from what Neville Gregory's
    32        work at Bristol has shown is that it is very important the
    33        bolt should come out at a determined -- beyond a maximum
    34        speed.  It is very difficult to measure that on site.  But
    35        what you can make sure of is that the gun has not been used
    36        on too many animals and is regularly cleaned.
    37
    38        Now, this is an operation -----
    39
    40   Q.   Does that happen?
    41        A.  Yes, I have looked at that myself.
    42
    43   Q.   Sorry, what happens?  Is it regularly that it is not
    44        properly cleaned or is it occasional or what?
    45        A.  I would say it is occasional, but, of course, we are
    46        talking about a large number of animals and it does give
    47        one concern, even if it is one animal that is not properly
    48        stunned.   One has to say that I have seen occasions where
    49        up to five shots had to be put into an animal before it was
    50        felled. 
    51 
    52        So one has to look at the number of shots that are used to 
    53        fell an animal.  To do that, I would look at the number of
    54        animals that have gone through and the number of cartridges
    55        that are being used.  If it does not tally, if there are
    56        more cartridges used than the number of animals, I would
    57        know then that more than one shot had been used.  That
    58        would give me concern.  That is the sort of thing that does
    59        give me concern.  That is the sort of thing I would like
    60        for.

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