Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 29
1 A. Correct.
2 Q. Do pigs like the sun? Do they benefit from it?
A. Within limits, yes.
3
Q. Is there a danger, particularly with rather pale looking
4 pigs like these, they may get sunburnt?
A. Yes, there is.
5
Q. What measures can be taken to protect them from that?
6 A. The most common measure -- one which was used at
GD Bowes -- is to provide a mud wallow. An alternative
7 measure might be to provide shade. Another measure might
be to hose them down periodically with water. You want to
8 be able to allow them to express normal behaviour
patterns, to thermo regulate. That means allow them to
9 regulate their temperature.
10 Q. I think you told us when you were at Bowes in April the
instruction to get a wallow started had just gone out?
11 A. For that summer time, yes. This was common practice,
as I understand it, at GD Bowes.
12
Q. Do they not need their wallows in the winter?
13 A. It would not be necessary because the risk of sunburn
would be relatively low.
14
Q. Do pigs get cold in winter?
15 A. Yes, they do.
16 Q. Did you inspect the accommodation for the outdoor pigs, so
far as protection against cold was concerned?
17 A. I saw it, yes.
18 Q. Did it seem adequate?
A. Not being there in winter time, it is difficult to
19 generalise, you will appreciate. There were arcs with
straw in the arcs. That is usually a good system.
20 Usually you also want some protection from wind if it is
an exposed site.
21
Q. You called it an arc. I think I know what you mean. Will
22 you describe it?
23 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Are they like the corrugated iron they used
to use, but what do they use now?
24 A. It is very similar; it may be alloy instead of
corrugated iron these days.
25
Q. Are they open ended at each end?
26 A. No. One end is usually shut off. The opposite end
may not be completely open. I believe, but I am recalling
27 15 months ago, that it was not completely open at Bowes,
but I am open to correction on that.
28
MR. RAMPTON: How long are the weaned pigs, weaners, kept
29 before they are taken out of the field and put into indoor
accommodation?
30 A. If my memory serves me correctly they were removed at
approximately 45 kilos live weight.
