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
