Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 41


     
     1        is not any neuroma formation, then I cannot immediately
              anticipate that there is going to be lasting pain.
     2
         Q.   What about dehorning?
     3        A.  The same thing.
 
     4   Q.   Is that the same thing?
              A.  Unless if you are talking about mechanical dehorning
     5        which is not practised in this country, as far as I am
              aware, but I am open to correction on that.
     6
         Q.   What about emasculation?
     7        A.  Yes, what about it?  Sorry.
 
     8   Q.   Talking about emasculation, presumably there are various
              techniques.  Is there one where the use of elastic bands
     9        are used?
              A.  Yes.
    10
         Q.   That is still prevalent in this country, is it?
    11        A.  I have not seen any statistical survey on this but, to
              the best of my knowledge, is still used, yes.
    12
         Q.   Is that very painful?  That is not done under anaesthetic
    13        usually, is it?
              A.  Yes.  There has been quite lot of work done on sheep
    14        in this, using the same technique and if we extrapolate
              between the species there is evidence which shows that it
    15        is distressful to the sheep based on adrenocorticosteroid
              hormone levels in the circulation.
    16
         Q.   Do any of those ones mentioned, disbudding, dehorning or
    17        emasculation lead to distress for the cow due to, say,
              increased flies or infection?
    18        A.  One does not emasculate a cow using a rubber ring.
 
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have moved off the dairy cows for the
              moment, have you?
    20
         MR. MORRIS:  Yes, we are moving on to beef?
    21        A.  Right.  Could you rephrase the question, please?
 
    22   Q.   Do any of those operations, disbudding, dehorning or
              emasculation, lead to distress due to infection or
    23        increased flies especially in the summer, for example?
              A.  Disbudding, emasculation and the other one was?
    24
         Q.   Dehorning, that is the same thing?
    25        A.  Yes, so, right.
  
    26   Q.   It is not used in this country. 
              A.  Castration, emasculation -- the same thing -- can lead 
    27        to a secondary infection -- can do.  I do not know of any
              figures on the prevalence of secondary infections, but it
    28        can do, after the scrotum has fallen off.
 
    29   Q.   Just a brief point before I move on to slaughter:  Why is
              cow meat used for burger production generally?
    30        A.  The principal reason is price.  It is lower in price.
 

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