Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 29
1 groups?
2 A. Yes, they are.
3
4 Q. They are then prompted to go up, what, a ramp to the
5 stunning pen when it is time to be stunned?
6 A. Yes, it is.
7
8 Q. Do you use any goads or sticks in your establishment?
9 A. It is banned on the farms, it is banned on our lorry
10 drivers and our stockmen and it is banned in the meat plant
11 also.
12
13 Q. Suppose in the slaughterhouse on the way up, I do not know
14 what you call it, the race, or whatever you call it, to the
15 stunning pen, you have pigs being unruly or coming off the
16 lorry, by what means are they controlled?
17 A. By what we key call guide boards.
18
19 Q. Which are what?
20 A. I was looking for an example in the courtroom; there is
21 not one.
22
23 Q. How big is it?
24 A. It is about two foot six square with a hole in the top
25 so that you can get hold of it in this fashion and you have
26 it before you.
27
28 Q. A bit like a riot shield, is it?
29 A. If you like to classify it as such, sir.
30
31 Q. Let me ask you about your stockmen. Have you read
32 Dr. Gregory's evidence in this case, not his report but his
33 oral evidence in this court?
34 A. Yes, I have, sir.
35
36 Q. I suspect you will have noticed that he was extremely
37 complimentary about the way in which your people handled
38 the animals such that he was going to teach some of your
39 techniques himself; did you notice that?
40 A. Yes, I did, sir. I wish I had known that before; we
41 could have had a little bit of commission.
42
43 Q. He is in New Zealand; you could write to him now. Let us
44 be serious about this, Mr. Bowes, if we may. How important
45 do you think it is that your stockmen should handle the
46 pigs properly? I will ask you what you mean by "properly"
47 in a moment but how important do you think it is?
48 A. It is, I would think the handling and the welfare of
49 the animal is absolutely crucial to our business -- you
50 know, I come back to my comfort factor -- and everyone
51 -----
52
53 Q. Bear with me a moment, Mr. Morris is laughing. Is your
54 attention to the welfare of the animals motivated solely by
55 pounds, shillings and pence over the counter?
56 A. No.
57
58 Q. I am sorry I interrupted you. The comfort factor, is this
59 something for which the stockman has an important
60 responsibility, therefore?
