Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 74
1 time, we must give credence to the RSPCA, because they
2 allow it in their freedom food document, and I am sure that
3 if it was giving pain as such it would be not allowed. So,
4 it is just -- it is not just Bowes as a company speaking,
5 me as a representative of that company.
6
7 MS. STEEL: The RSPCA says that nose rings are not allowed
8 except in exceptional circumstances?
9 A. The exceptional circumstances are to save the young.
10
11 Q. Presumably, if they thought it was a painless technique,
12 they would not be worried about peopling using it all the
13 time?
14 A. If a painless technique?
15
16 Q. If it did not cause the pigs any pain, presumably they
17 would not mind if it was used on every pig every day of the
18 week?
19 A. If they think it is necessary, according to the
20 regulations, you can.
21
22 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do pigs learn quickly?
23 A. Yes, sir; they are a very quick learning animal.
24
25 MS. STEEL: Have you still got the freedom foods thing there?
26 A. Yes, I have.
27
28 Q. The booklet.
29 A. Which page, please?
30
31 Q. Page 4.
32 A. Yes, I have it.
33
34 Q. No. 2 says, "Nose rings are not allowed except in
35 exceptional circumstances which are subject to the approval
36 of a freedom food assessor".
37 A. Yes.
38
39 Q. Why do they have a restriction on the use of nose rings if
40 there is no pain involved?
41 A. I would believe that the RSPCA, being a responsible
42 organisation, have come to a logical conclusion.
43
44 Q. That it is painful?
45 A. I am not saying whether it is -- I have said that when
46 the initial ring goes in there must be some pain. I am not
47 denying that. But after the initial pain, I am sure that
48 the pig, he just goes about and enjoys himself. Let me
49 give you an example -- I have missed a strong point for
50 you. Our sows, they are fed in two ways. They are fed
51 what we call cob nuts, which is food so it is scattered on
52 the ground so they can feed from the ground, and it is also
53 put into troughs, so they can eat out of the troughs. Now,
54 if the ring was a huge problem when they are eating, they
55 would go thin again and we would have a problem, and it
56 would be very noticeable, and it does not happen.
57
58 Q. But they do not need to rout around to get the food from
59 the ground though, do they, not deeply? They do not have
60 to dig?
