Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 82


     
     1        particular risk of distress or stress to the animal?
     2        A.  I would imagine there is a risk of it, yes.
     3
     4   Q.   But is it one you have observed in practice?
     5        A.  No, only when, I mean, the normal signs when droving an
     6        animal through another gate, you know.
     7
     8   Q.   Do animals not like going through gates?
     9        A.  I do not know.  I am not an animal, sir.
    10
    11   Q.   Sorry, of course you are not.  That was a badly phrased
    12        question.  What I meant was, do animals show signs of
    13        reluctance about going through gates?
    14        A.  Yes, I think if there is points throughout that process
    15        where there is a reluctance, it is the going through gates,
    16        yes.
    17
    18   Q.   Do you have a problem getting them to go up the race?
    19        A.  Normally, if one animal goes up that race, the others
    20        will follow.
    21
    22   Q.   They will?
    23        A.  Yes.
    24
    25   Q.   Is there with cows, as I think there is with sheep and
    26        geese, a sort of lead animal in a group?
    27        A.  I honestly do not know, but it would appear that way
    28        sometimes, yes.
    29
    30   Q.   If one of its mates goes up the race, the others will tend
    31        to follow, will they?
    32        A.  Yes.
    33
    34   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You do not use decoys or anything like that?
    35        A.  No, sir.
    36
    37   MR. RAMPTON:  There is something called a Judas sheep, is there
    38        not?  (To the witness):  Once into the race, is there a
    39        problem of calmness or one of tranquility in that journey
    40        up the race until they get to the stunning pen?
    41        A.  Not usually.  I mean, if the animal in front of the
    42        immediately to the gate which is lifted to go into the stun
    43        pen decides to walk backwards, then that -----
    44
    45   Q.   You get a log jam, I assume, then or a cow jam then?
    46        A.  That is right, yes.  But once they are moved up, the
    47        cow behind generally takes its next place and walks up to
    48        the gate.
    49
    50   Q.   Is that a stage at which the herdsman or the drover may 
    51        decide it is necessary to use a goad? 
    52        A.  That is the usual stage. 
    53
    54   Q.   That is the usual stage?
    55        A.  Yes.
    56
    57   Q.   Does this occur when the animal sees the closed gate, the
    58        leading animal, I mean, of the stun pen or when it is open
    59        or what is the problem?
    60        A.  Anywhere during that time, it may back up but, of

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