Day 096 - 03 Mar 95 - Page 40


     
     1
     2   Q.   When you say "production has dropped"?
     3        A.  No, that has not affected the slaughter line.
     4
     5   Q.   In what way has production dropped?
     6        A.  On the collection of pigs.  It is a much slower process
     7        now.
     8
     9   Q.   So, it has not affected the unloading of pigs then?
    10        A.  No.  Pigs unload just the same as ever.
    11
    12   Q.   Goads are used for unloading as well though -- I know they
    13        are not now?
    14        A.  No, no, no.
    15
    16   Q.   They never were?
    17        A.  Very, very rarely.  Very rarely.
    18
    19   Q.   The consumer awareness that you were talking about, you
    20        thought that was going to have some effect on the market?
    21        A.  No -- we have, you know, our factory is open to anyone
    22        at any time.
    23
    24   Q.   Sorry?
    25        A.  Our factory is open to anyone at any time and we are
    26        collecting pigs from all over East Anglia any time
    27        and -----
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What is being put to you, if consumer
    30        awareness was a factor, it is being suggested that that was
    31        a stimulus to stop using goads, because people might go off
    32        eating pig meat or your pig meat if goads continued to be
    33        used, and that would affect your market to some extent.
    34        That is what was being put to you.
    35        A.  Yes, but also, you see, we look at the whole concept,
    36        as I was saying earlier.
    37
    38   Q.   What do you say about that first, Mr. Bowes?
    39        A.  About consumer?  We have always been driving towards
    40        what the consumer wants.  You know, they are our customer
    41        and, obviously, if they have any whims, etc., one tries to
    42        come to their needs.  That was a whole concept that we went
    43        for.  The hydraulic lifts -- once the hydraulic lifts were
    44        introduced and we got all our lorries fully equipped with
    45        them, the goads could go.  That was the whole concept.
    46        Once we come up with the water solution, the goads could
    47        go.  It was evolution.
    48
    49   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Shall we break there?
    50 
    51   MS. STEEL:  Right. 
    52 
    53   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It is somewhat after 1.00 but we will start
    54        again at 2 o'clock.
    55
    56                        (Luncheon Adjournment)
    57
    58   MS. STEEL:  The pigs are slaughtered at a rate of 220 to 240 an
    59        hour; is that right?
    60        A.  Correct.

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