Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 37


     
     1        the national average.  It is not unreasonable to assume it
              would apply in this case, yes.
     2
         Q.   They do not have calves until what age?
     3        A.  Well, maybe two and a quarter years.
 
     4   Q.   So they virtually are having a calf a year as soon as they
              are able to and then they are sent for slaughter?
     5        A.  Yes, so they have three crops and then, yes.
 
     6   Q.   Are they exhausted after they have had three crops?  Are
              they barren?
     7        A.  Some of them will be barren, yes.  Some of them -- if
              I was a dairy farmer, I would find it difficult to
     8        diagnose exhaustion in a cow.  You are saying this is the
              reason for culling, you see.  The exhaustion may be
     9        apparent in different ways.  One might be that the body
              condition of the animal has deteriorated, it has no fat on
    10        the animal.  That, I think, is an extreme situation which
              I would say is not common.  If, on the other hand, they
    11        are infertile through excessive calf bearing, that could
              be a welfare concern.  The prevalence of that, I do not
    12        know.
 
    13   Q.   How long would a cow normally live -- something like 25,
              30 years?
    14        A.  That statement has been given out before.  I do not
              have any first hand information to corroborate or refute
    15        it, but it would not surprise me if under some
              circumstances cows can live that long.
    16
         Q.   I have not a very accurate information that your colleague
    17        professor John Webster -- do you know him?
              A.  I do.
    18
         Q.   He has described -- I do not know if you know this or not
    19        -- the dairy cow as a very abused animal?
              A.  Yes, could you give his full context to that?
    20
         Q.   I have not the actual quote.
    21
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you know whether he said that?
    22        A.  Yes, the context is important.
 
    23   Q.   Yes.  Tell us about that.
              A.  I am asking -- I do not have it in front of me.
    24
         Q.   Do you know whether Professor Webster has said that, from
    25        your own knowledge?
              A.  He has certainly indicated that on some occasions in 
    26        some context. 
  
    27   Q.   Do you know what the contexts are?
              A.  Offhand, I could not give them.
    28
         Q.   So it was not just a general statement, an at large
    29        statement, or was it?
              A.  I do not know.  You would have to look up the source.
    30
         MR. MORRIS:  Does the cow ----

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