Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 76


     
     1        for improvement though.
 
     2   Q.   Yes.  Would you say, you know, fairly substantial
              improvements?
     3        A.  Yes.  There is one case, in particular, that I think
              does need more attention.  That is, preslaughter handling
     4        of pigs and the actual application of stunning.
 
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Was your question directed at cases where
              there is still room for improvement, or your earlier
     6        question about improvements having come about over the
              years?
     7
         MS. STEEL:   The second one that you have just asked.
     8
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think Ms. Steel was asking you, she was in
     9        effect putting to you as a result of that report, in part
              at least, there have been improvements?
    10        A.  Right.
 
    11   Q.   And you talked about statutory instruments and codes in
              about 1990.  I think her question was directed at whether
    12        those improvements have been substantial improvements.
              A.  In some areas -----
    13
         Q.   Considerable improvements?
    14        A.  In some areas, yes.  In fact the recommendations have
              been fulfilled in some areas.  In other areas I think
    15        there is still room for progress.  For instance, where it
              has been fulfilled the animal welfare officers training
    16        course has been initiated and it is ongoing.  In other
              areas some of the recommendations relating, for instance,
    17        to preslaughter handling of pigs, it is deficient still,
              yes.
    18
         MS. STEEL:   Could you give some other examples of where the
    19        recommendations have been fulfilled?
              A.  It would be helpful if I had the report in front of me
    20        to flip through the recommendations, but if you really
              mean could I give some pointers as to where abattoir
    21        practice is deficient -----
 
    22   Q.   Yes.
              A.  I thought it was.  Right.  We will have to go species
    23        by species.  In the case of pigs there is a problem with
              actually manoeuvreing the pig from the lairage pen to the
    24        stunning position and separating those pigs out
              individually.  Pigs are animals which like to remain in a
    25        group.  When you isolate them they are likely to want to
              get back to their group situation.  Normally abattoirs 
    26        operate at a fairly fast rate, in which case the physical 
              handling of the animals can be rather rough in order to 
    27        get them into a single isolated situation to be stunned.
              Some of equipment that is used for conveying them can be a
    28        bit rough as well, fairly brutal.  The electric goads, for
              instance, are used rather a lot.
    29
              The actual stunning application in my recent survey work
    30        has shown that in fact the placement of the electrodes on
              pig's head coupled with the low current used in present

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