Day 089 - 15 Feb 95 - Page 34


     
     1        very important.
     2
     3   Q.   For how long has a period of darkness been provided in the
     4        sheds at Sun Valley, for how many years, I mean?
     5        A.  Well, many, many years, ever since I have been
     6        involved, certainly.
     7
     8   Q.   For how long, going back to the chicks, has the method of
     9        disposal using carbon dioxide which you have described been
    10        in operation?
    11        A.  The same answer, really, a very long time.
    12
    13   Q.   For how long has it been the practice to inspect the
    14        carcasses for signs of life?
    15        A.  That has always been part of the procedure.
    16
    17   Q.   For how long has Sun Valley used environmentally controlled
    18        trucks, or whatever they are, to transport the chicks to
    19        the growing houses?
    20        A.  Again for a long time.  The design of the vehicles has
    21        improved over the years, but they have been used as
    22        standard in the industry for at least 20 years, I would
    23        say.
    24
    25   Q.   Going back then to the journey, on average, how many chicks
    26        per truck?
    27        A.  The truck holds, I think, about 20,000 chicks.
    28
    29   Q.   Is it found from time to time, or I do not know, perhaps
    30        routinely, that a proportion of those chicks have died
    31        during the journey?
    32        A.  It is very unusual to have any mortality at all on
    33        those journeys.
    34
    35   Q.   Do you have a view about the sort maximum number that might
    36        be found?
    37        A.  Well, out of 20,000, normally we would not expect to
    38        have any more than six or 10.  It is really very small
    39        numbers.
    40
    41   Q.   And there are occasions when there are none at all?
    42        A.  That is correct.
    43
    44   Q.   Even on a 50 mile trip?
    45        A.  Yes, the distance should not matter.
    46
    47   Q.   How closely packed are they in the lorry?
    48        A.  They are delivered, they are in trays, and I believe
    49        the number in each tray is about 150, so they are just
    50        trays like washing baskets. 
    51 
    52   Q.   They are usually, what, are a day-old or something like? 
    53        A.  This is a day-old.
    54
    55   Q.   At that age do they need food and drink on a 50 mile
    56        journey?
    57        A.  No, they do not.  The chick has a yoke sack which
    58        provides it with sufficient nourishment for at least the
    59        first 48 hours of its life and chicks have been very
    60        successfully transported all over the world without any

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