Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 35


     
     1
         Q.   .07 is the national average estimate, whereas Bowes
     2        thought theirs was .02?
              A.  I apologise, yes.
     3
         Q.   If it turns out that Bowes are right about that, then they
     4        will be doing somewhat better than other people?
              A.  Yes.
     5
         Q.   Did you see any use of electric goads in the unloading of
     6        the pigs?
              A.  No, I did not.
     7
         Q.   Do you know whether or not the pigs were kept over night,
     8        whether they were the company pigs or outside contractor's
              pigs, before being slaughtered?
     9        A.  Not in the lairage, no, they were not.
 
    10   Q.   What can one do if a pig arrives which is not dead but
              badly injured?
    11        A.  There were two alternatives depending upon the
              circumstances.  One can either shoot it in the lorry or
    12        put it on a pram, wheel the pram to the slaughter point,
              stun it, then bleed it out in the normal manner.
    13
         Q.   I want to go quite quickly over this until we get to the
    14        point of slaughter.  So far as your observations were
              concerned, what was the standard of animal care from the
    15        point of arrival in the lorries to the point of being
              stunned?
    16        A.  At this particular plant I thought it was
              commendable.  It is one of the highest standards I have
    17        seen for the throughput of plant and sort of situation.
              In fact, what I learned from this visit I now include in
    18        my teaching on the subject, because I think it is a very
              high standard.
    19
         Q.   Can you give us a brief account of the reasons, particular
    20        reasons, why you thought that it was of such a high
              standard?
    21        A.  An important aspect of it was the experience and
              ability expressed by the people who are handling the
    22        pigs.  That is an important item.
 
    23   Q.   Why is that important?
              A.  It is the breakdown in orderly handling of pigs.
    24        Quite often a reflection not only of facilities, but also
              the operators who are working the system.  Now in this
    25        situation they have facilities which are quite similar in
              some respects, in many respects, to other abattoirs. 
    26        But  ----- 
  
    27   Q.   Physically, you mean?
              A.  Indeed I do, but the operators at this particular
    28        plant had worked with the system but arranged for what
              I considered to be extremely effective handling.
    29
         Q.   Does ineffective handling have a detrimental effect for
    30        animal welfare?
              A.  Undoubtedly.

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