Day 104 - 15 Mar 95 - Page 52
1 degree of fear.
2
3 Q. That is what the Farm Animal Welfare Council Advice to
4 Ministers on the Handbook of Transport Poultry says. Would
5 you accept that?
6 A. Yes.
7
8 Q. It is on page 15 of that document. When Dr. Gregory
9 visited your plant he reduced the depth of the neck cutter,
10 did he not, to check about whether cutting the spinal cord
11 would mask unconsciousness. Do you recall that?
12 A. He did make various changes.
13
14 Q. He was able to do that so that only 20 per cent of the
15 birds have their spinal cord cut; do you recall that?
16 A. I do not particularly, no.
17
18 Q. He does say that and if that is correct, is there any
19 reason why the company could not have reduced the depth of
20 the neck cutter immediately after so that you were not
21 masking the signs of unconsciousness in birds?
22 A. I think we make adjustments to that sort of equipment
23 all the time. It is not a finite thing. It is set up
24 every day. It is adjusted several times a day. He just
25 happened to see it at a point in time.
26
27 Q. 83 per cent of birds having their spinal cord cut would not
28 be unusual though, would it?
29 A. I think we have been through all this before.
30
31 Q. I am not sure, perhaps you can just answer that, that would
32 not be unusual, would it?
33 A. I would say it would be unusual and, as I said, the
34 vessel on the side of the neck must be cut.
35
36 Q. So, on average then what percentage of birds do you say
37 were having their spinal cords cut at that time?
38 A. I cannot answer.
39
40 Q. You have got no idea? So, you are not really in a
41 position to challenge what Dr. Gregory said?
42 A. If Dr. Gregory says something why should I challenge
43 it? We called him in as an independent consultant and we
44 asked him for his advice. He gave his advice and you have
45 seen the results of the report.
46
47
48 MR. JUSTICE BELL: The only comment I would make in relation to
49 that is if, for any reason whatsoever, what he saw on the
50 day or days when he expected was exceptional for any
51 reason?
52 A. Yes. That is right. But I think also I would like to
53 make the comment that we did call him as a consultant and,
54 in a sense, I felt that that was the responsible thing to
55 do at the time.
56
57 MS. STEEL: I am not quite sure about that last answer.
58
59 MR. JUSTICE BELL: The point which Dr. Pattison has sought to
60 make from time to time is you have implied criticism that
