Day 093 - 28 Feb 95 - Page 53


     
     1
     2   Q.   But McDonald's does not say that if the animals are going
     3        to the feed lot then they should not be branded?
     4        A.  No, it does not say that.  We are currently looking at
     5        that.  We have been trying to do that.  We have been trying
     6        to change the regulations.  To be honest it is not only
     7        because of the concerns of the animal; there is an economic
     8        reason for that. The hide losses about $16 per animal per
     9        hide in value because they are branded.
    10
    11   Q.   Effectively, it is up to your suppliers what they choose to
    12        do then?
    13        A.  Now you have to understand what I just talked about is
    14        required by law.  It is not required by our suppliers.
    15
    16   Q.   On the pastures, not on the feed lots?
    17        A.  We do not have suppliers on the pastures or the feed
    18        lots.
    19
    20   Q.   As far as the conditions go then, you basically leave it in
    21        the hands of your suppliers, the abattoirs?
    22        A.  You have to understand we do not have abattoirs.  We do
    23        not have something we can say to our suppliers.
    24
    25   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  We have been through this before.  I really
    26        find it difficult to see how, for the argument which you
    27        want to put, you can do better than you have done so far.
    28        If you want to press on until you get an answer which
    29        detracts from the one you have got already, do so. It is
    30        quite apparent to me that McDonald's leaves all these
    31        things to their suppliers in the US, whatever they do in
    32        the UK, which seems to me, arguably on the evidence, to be
    33        a rather different system.
    34
    35   THE WITNESS:  May I make a clear distinction?  When it comes to
    36        chickens we a very strong relationship with our suppliers
    37        because of the nature of the business.  When it comes to
    38        beef cattle we cannot have a relationship.  We have been
    39        trying to develop a relationship with them.  We have not.
    40        Nobody in the industry ----
    41
    42   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Even with Tysons you let them get on with it?
    43        A.  Yes, but we place that responsibility on them.  We have
    44        very little influence on the beef side because they do not
    45        supply, they are not what we called "dedicated" suppliers
    46        to us.  They can sell to whoever they want to.
    47
    48   MS. STEEL:   The cattle's horns do have nerves in them, do they
    49        not?
    50        A.  Mostly, yes, similar with the nails, at the base they 
    51        have some nerves, then as you go to the tip they do not. 
    52 
    53   Q.   So you are saying that the nerves go halfway up or
    54        something like that?
    55        A.  I do not know how far they go, if they concentrate it
    56        at the base, but definitely at the top or at the tip they
    57        are not there.
    58
    59   Q.   The dehorning can be done with a chemical paste that burns
    60        out the roots of their horns, can it not?

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