Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 82


     
     1        heating.
 
     2   MR. RAMPTON:  In a free range situation the chicken must decide
              for itself to go inside if it is too cold, I assume?
     3        A.  That is logical.
 
     4   Q.   Equally, if it is a bit hot inside, it may want to cool
              off and go outside?
     5        A.  If it is cooler outside, that may be to its advantage.
 
     6   Q.   Are these free range sheds open 24 hours a day?
              A.  Not usually, no.
     7
         Q.   They are put in at night and the doors are closed?
     8        A.  That is usual practice.
 
     9   Q.   What is the reason for that?
              A.  Security and to minimise even further any risks of
    10        predation.
 
    11   Q.   Is it possible for you to judge whether there is a
              comparison to be made between the two kinds of
    12        establishment in point of leg breakages, wing breakages,
              matters of that kind?
    13        A.  Comparisons have been made.
 
    14   Q.   Can you give us an estimate from your learning?
              A.  Yes.  Would you care for me to include some barn
    15        systems or would you just prefer me to focus on free range
              when making a comparison with battery systems?
    16
         Q.   If you could, please, do free range against battery, first
    17        of all?
              A.  Right.  The prevalence of broken bones at the time the
    18        birds are harvested for slaughter, if you excuse the
              expression "harvesting", is the order of 29 per cent for
    19        battery hens, and in the case of free range it is 5 per
              cent.  So new breaks at the time of slaughter is that sort
    20        of prevalence.
 
    21   Q.   What about in their life before slaughter, in the habitat
              which they live in?
    22        A.  In the case of battery hens it is of the order of 5
              per cent, fractures which subsequently mend, so they are
    23        occurring during lay; in the case of free range, there is
               -- I do not remember the figure; I remember the figure
    24        for barn systems; I do not remember the figure, but I can
              provide it to the court if it is required for free range.
    25
         Q.   If it is insignificant it does not matter, Dr. Gregory, 
    26        but I wonder if you can remember whether for, as it were, 
              the in-house injuries before collection, before 
    27        harvesting, the difference in breakages was significantly
              greater or less among free range chickens than it is
    28        amongst battery chickens?
              A.  I understand your question.  In the case of birds
    29        which are loose  housed and able to fly, they have flight
              accidents; take a perchery system, the prevalence of old
    30        breaks or breaks acquired during lay can be as high as 24
              per cent.

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