Day 108 - 27 Mar 95 - Page 36


     
     1        growth in broiler progeny has been accompanied by increased
     2        appetite in the parent lines. If broiler breeders are
     3        allowed to eat as much as they want, both sexes show
     4        reduced fertility when they reach maturity and they can
     5        suffer thermal discomfort, lameness and heart failure."
     6
     7   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Which page are you on?
     8        A.  Sorry, that is page 132, the second paragraph.
     9
    10   MS. STEEL:  It is the second paragraph on page 132.
    11        A.  It then goes on to say how they "show abnormal forms of
    12        oral behaviour such as stereotyped pecking at non-food
    13        objects, over-drinking or excessive preening."  I remember
    14        Dr. Gregory mentioned that they eat the environment/index.html">litter in their
    15        hunger.
    16
    17   Q.   That is the ones on restricted rations?
    18        A.  Yes.
    19
    20   Q.   Do you feel the living conditions of broiler breeders
    21        presents a welfare problem?
    22        A.  Yes, I think it is a huge problem and a very recent one
    23        as well.  It has only happened since chickens were guided
    24        into two types in about 1950, into putting on excessive
    25        meat and laying an unnaturally large number of eggs.  They
    26        were divided into two streams and this is where the
    27        problems began, and they are no less now.  They have got to
    28        a peak, one would hope, but it is a very big welfare
    29        problem, yes, in my mind.
    30
    31   Q.   The welfare problems, do you think that they have been
    32        brought about intentionally or -----
    33        A.  No, I am sure they have not but it has been a sort of
    34        side effect of thinking only of profit and quick growth and
    35        quick profit with no regard whatsoever for the behavioural
    36        patterns or the needs or the feelings of the birds which,
    37        of course, is the same with the battery system.
    38
    39   Q.   I think you have been into some of the other problems with
    40        breeders.  I do not know whether you have mentioned all the
    41        ones you wanted to refer to.  That is not meant to be -- it
    42        is just -----
    43        A.  I think the debeaking, I did mention that, that is
    44        because they are kept at a higher light level in order to
    45        trigger off ovulation, and this brings its own problems.
    46        No, I think the debeaking, the over-crowding and
    47        particularly the feed restriction are my main worries.
    48
    49   Q.   What are your views on debeaking, or what do you think the
    50        problem is with debeaking? 
    51        A.  The problems are the initial trauma which is obvious, 
    52        and then the possibilities and probability, in fact, of 
    53        chronic pain resulting, which has been investigated by
    54        Dr. Michael Gentle at Roslin.  His findings and others are
    55        that chronic pain is suffered after debeaking because of
    56        neuromas formed at the site of the wound.  It is called a
    57        mutilation and in the FAWC report on the laying hen they
    58        called it "a welfare insult" was the phrase they used for
    59        debeaking, so it certainly is something which should be
    60        avoided and should not be part of a deal.  They have these

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