Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 32
1 court when I return to Bristol tomorrow.
2 Q. This is quite important.
A. Right. At least I will do my best to, if I have kept
3 the records.
4 Q. At Sun Valley poultry you concluded that 1 per cent of the
birds have residual brain stem activity at scalding?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. So obviously they are, therefore, alive?
A. Yes.
7
Q. The recommendations in the code of practice at tab H, 318,
8 recommendation No. 41 says that birds should be dead
before entering the scald tank?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. So that is again something that is not being done,
according to the codes of practice. There is also
11 something about times there as well. It is quite
important if you have the time available?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. The 1 per cent of birds that were not dead at scalding,
that is around 1,350 every day, that is quite a
14 significant number?
A. I understand.
15
Q. That would be something that would concern you?
16 A. These are guidelines which processors should aim for.
In terms of whether the welfare is compromised, in this
17 particular instance, if they are just showing brain stem
activity and they are unconscious, I think it would be
18 wrong to say that the welfare has been compromised.
19 Q. You do not know whether -----
A. This particular requirement adds a safety valve in the
20 management of the overall slaughter process. There is a,
to help guarantee that nothing goes wrong, it is an extra
21 requirement over and above that which is required solely
out of welfare, you know, of the birds involved.
22
Q. What does residual brain stem activity mean then?
23 A. Well, if one is unconscious and you have residual
brain stem activity, you would not be described as being
24 clinically dead.
25 Q. So it is possible you could come round?
A. No. In that situation is rather unlikely. The
26 vessels have been cut in the neck. The bird would have to
be breathing and not have haemorrhaged extensively in
27 order to come around. That situation is highly unlikely
in this context. In the case of different species, in the
28 case of humans, then, yes, it is possible, when you have a
brain stem reflex and you are on a life support system,
29 for consciousness to be resumed.
30 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is that sort of situation which leads to
the highly publicised cases where people have to come to
