Day 089 - 15 Feb 95 - Page 32


     
     1        right?
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:   Can Mr. Rampton stop asking leading questions?
     4
     5   MR. RAMPTON:  What is the level of light in your sheds?
     6        A.  We normally run our sheds at a lighting level between
     7        10 and 20 lux.
     8
     9   Q.   10 and 20?
    10        A.  Yes.
    11
    12   Q.   So do you know what -- it is probably a failure of
    13        recollection on my part and it shows one of the reasons not
    14        to ask leading questions -- you read Dr. Gregory's
    15        reference to 80 lux.  What was that a reference to?
    16        A.  I am afraid I cannot specifically remember.
    17        I think it would be unlikely -- he did measure the light
    18        levels in our broiler sheds that he visited and I think it
    19        would be unlikely if they were as high as 80 lux.  80 lux
    20        is quite bright.
    21
    22   Q.   Yes, I was going to ask, you say 10 to 20 is the
    23        average  ---
    24        A.  Yes.
    25
    26   Q.   -- level.  What I wanted to know for this purpose was at a
    27        level of 10 or 20, is it possible or is it difficult for
    28        the stockman to see birds which have died?
    29        A.  Not at all.  This is quite an acceptable level of light
    30        for observing stock, for them to see, to eat and drink and
    31        so on.
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It can be turned up, can it?
    34        A.  Yes, the lights are on adjustable dimmer switchers, so
    35        that they can be turned up or turned down as required, and
    36        this would be very much part of normal stock management
    37        that you turn lights up or down according to the behaviour
    38        of the birds.  If you feel they need a bit more light, you
    39        can very quickly give them more.
    40
    41   MR. RAMPTON:  Who judges whether they need more light?
    42        A.  Again the stockman on the farm, the manager on the
    43        farm, is responsible for that.  We, as a company, would
    44        only give very general guidelines and he must judge how the
    45        stock are reacting to the light level according to the
    46        situation.
    47
    48   Q.   While we are on light -- we seem to be well ahead of our
    49        journey from the hatchery, but it does not matter -- do
    50        your chickens get any period of darkness during the course 
    51        of a 24 hour period? 
    52        A.  The normal practice is to give them 20 to 30 minutes of 
    53        darkness during a 24 hour period.
    54
    55   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Might the lighting have been turned up
    56        because an inspection was being made?  I am not suggesting
    57        to deceive, but the better to see certain things within the
    58        shed with the human eye?
    59        A.  Certainly, the lights can be turned up for more
    60        detailed inspection.  Certainly, if the farm manager wants

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