Day 089 - 15 Feb 95 - Page 57


     
     1        A.  That is correct.
     2
     3   Q.   And then rest of it through its head?
     4        A.  Yes.
     5
     6   Q.   Which is by this time, or should be, in the water?
     7        A.  That is correct.
     8
     9   Q.   Which, in turn, connects up with the grid on the bottom of
    10        the bath?
    11        A.  Yes.
    12
    13   Q.   Does the grid, I think you just said it, but I did not hear
    14        the whole answer, run the whole length of bath?
    15        A.  It does.
    16
    17   Q.   Does it follow from that that it does not matter from the
    18        point of view of stun at which point the bird hits the
    19        water?
    20        A.  No.  Obviously the main thing is to guide the head in
    21        the most effective way into the water where the current is.
    22
    23   Q.   So does it get to water at the beginning of the bath?
    24        A.  Yes, it does.
    25
    26   Q.   Is there any way under this system in which a bird could by
    27        accident get a pre- stunned shock?
    28        A.  Well, we have found using this equipment that we have
    29        virtually eliminated the problem of pre-stunning shocks
    30        which used to be a big problem in the old design of
    31        stunning baths.
    32
    33   Q.   Is there any method by which you can improve the
    34        conductivity of the bird itself before stunning?
    35        A.  We spray water above the birds, just a fine mist of
    36        water on to the legs of the birds, which wets them and
    37        improves conductivity and then salt solution is added to
    38        the water in the bath to help with conductivity.
    39
    40   Q.   Do some of the birds miss the bath altogether?
    41        A.  If a bird lifts its head, occasional birds will miss
    42        the stunning bath altogether.
    43
    44   Q.   What, roughly speaking, is the frequency of that occurrence
    45        in terms of percentages?
    46        A.  It probably happens, again I cannot be sure, but it
    47        probably happens every 300 or 400 birds you will get one
    48        that will raise its head.
    49
    50   Q.   Does this mean that 1 in 300 or 400 birds gets to the knife 
    51        while it is still conscious? 
    52        A.  Yes, it does. 
    53
    54   Q.   What is the reason why you use a lower current than is
    55        recommended by MAFF?
    56        A.  We believe that the current that is recommended by MAFF
    57        first of all it is based on an AC current and, therefore, a
    58        different electrical characteristic.  We believe that the
    59        machine we have effectively makes the birds unconscious
    60        which is what our legal obligation is under the Slaughter

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