Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 24
1 Q. Just going back to the point about some birds may appear
to be effectively stunned, but they could come around
2 before they actually die. That is why the codes of
practice recommend that unless, if there is not a cardiac
3 arrest then both carotid arteries are cut in order to
produce a humane kill?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. Neither of those methods was used in February?
A. Yes. Neither were used.
6
Q. Despite the recommendation that you made after your visit,
7 neither of these methods were being used by the time of
your second visit?
8 A. That is correct. They had seriously considered
getting a ventral neck cutter. They have subsequently
9 introduced one. It takes time to -- ventral neck cutters
are not used; you have to make one specially; they are not
10 available. So they have got a ventral neck cutter now.
11 Q. When did they get that then?
A. As I have been told by one of their personnel, it has
12 been incorporated, I believe, within the past two to three
months.
13
Q. Right. So it took them over a year to do something about
14 it?
A. Ask Mark Pattison that question.
15
Q. Right. Going back to your statement on page 7, the last
16 but one paragraph on that page, the last sentence: "If,
on the other hand, the vessels at the back of the neck are
17 severed blood can be continuously supplied to the brain
during the early part of the bleeding period". What would
18 be the effect of that?
A. It would sustain brain function such that if the
19 effectiveness of the stun wore off, the bird could regain
consciousness.
20
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Is this not all the same point?
21 A. It is.
22 MS. STEEL: You said, it is right that cutting the spinal cord
interrupts the nerves connecting the brain with the
23 animal's body so that it cannot express conscious activity
through physical movement?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. Given that you had informed the company in February they
could be criticised for masking recovery of consciousness
26 by severing the spinal cord, did it concern you that in
April, when you went back, they were still using the same
27 technique, and that this would have masked recovery of
consciousness of 83 per cent of the birds?
28 A. I expected to see something different.
29 Q. So it concerned you?
A. It surprised me, yes, and concerned me.
30
Q. It did concern you?
