Day 108 - 27 Mar 95 - Page 40


     
     1        they go outside but they still have leg problems and it is
     2        still a problematical breed now.  Even if you put far more
     3        space, give them far more space, they are still a flawed
     4        species but it would be better for them.  From the
     5        inspection point of view, if you have less of a sea of
     6        bodies, you clearly can see wounded or dying birds much
     7        more clearly.
     8
     9        May I add something?  In addition, there is no
    10        environmental interests.  There is no perches.  The light
    11        is very, very dim indeed and the whole thing is geared
    12        simply to keep them quiet, not kill each other, fatten up
    13        fast.  It is in no way geared to the lifestyle of the
    14        chicken, or any kind of pleasure or enjoyment or natural
    15        behaviour.
    16
    17   Q.   You mention the lighting conditions.  Dr. Pattison said the
    18        typical lighting was between 10 and 20 lux.  Is that
    19        something which gives you cause for concern?
    20        A.  I think it is often a lot dimmer than that, and, yes,
    21        I think a chicken's eyesight is notable for its very, very
    22        good eyesight.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think what you are being asked, assume for
    25        a moment that Dr. Pattison's evidence was accurate about
    26        the lighting level at Sun Valley. What do you say about
    27        that if it were 10 to 20 lux?
    28        A.  It is very dim for a creature that relies strongly on
    29        its eyesight, but whether it is a true welfare -- I know
    30        that there are eye problems which result from low lighting
    31        but maybe that is not in that range.  It is not the way I
    32        would want to keep animals in dim conditions.
    33
    34   Q.   I do not think I have heard any evidence and I do not know
    35        if you know to what extent chickens can see in the dark, if
    36        at all?
    37        A.  They are very unmanned by darkness. I think they
    38        probably cannot see at all because the way to keep a
    39        chicken, if you have any aggression or anything, the thing
    40        is to quieten it down with darkness or dimness, so I think
    41        they rely on light to see clearly.
    42
    43   MS. STEEL: Is that the reason why the lighting levels are kept
    44        at less than 20 lux?
    45
    46   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  I understand all that about keeping
    47        them calm or relatively inactive.
    48
    49   MS. STEEL:  What is your view on how the broiler system relates
    50        to spread of disease? 
    51        A.  It has been described as the perfect breeding ground 
    52        for various organisms such as campylobacter.  Salmonella is 
    53        encouraged by the growth promoters according to Professor
    54        Lynton the now retired Professor of Microbiology at Bristol
    55        University.  I would think is comparable to slum conditions
    56        in Victorian England, unhealthy, incredibly over-crowded.
    57        It is obvious, I think, the disease must spread very
    58        rapidly once introduced into a broiler house.
    59
    60   Q.   You said earlier that there had been improvements in the

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