Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 38


     
     1
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The important thing, Mr. Morris, is to ask
     2        the witness whether he agrees, because the fact that
              Professor Webster has said it is not evidence from this
     3        witness unless he agrees with the view.
 
     4   MR. MORRIS:  Would you agree with that?
              A.  I think there are a lot of demands placed upon the
     5        dairy cow in terms of milk yield and, as you imply,
              producing calves on a regular basis.  Yes, it is likely
     6        that if demands were not so high you might have a longer
              life-span, the cow might have a longer life-span.  That,
     7        though, is not substantiated by much factual information.
              It is just a popular belief amongst people who observe the
     8        dairy industry.
 
     9   Q.   Do dairy cows suffer from quite a lot of diseases because
              of their work and their position?
    10        A.  There are some production related diseases so-called.
              Now the prevalence of those -- it depends what you mean by
    11        a lot.  Could you give me some help on that?
 
    12   Q.   What about mastitis, for example?
              A.  Mastitis can be associated with high milk yields.  It
    13        is recognised as a so-called production related disease.
 
    14   Q.   Would a figure of 35 per cent of all dairy cows getting
              mastitis, would that be?
    15        A.  Yes.
 
    16   Q.  -- a reasonable figure?
              A.  Yes, but I would add that that is not a logical
    17        sequence of argument to say that is solely due to high
              milk yield.  There are many other factors which
    18        precipitate mastitis other than high milk yield per se.
 
    19   Q.   Is that a very high percentage getting that disease
              compared to a cow that would be in a natural state?
    20        A.  Absolutely.  It is a major welfare problem in dairy
              cattle production, mastitis.
    21
         Q.   Is it extremely uncomfortable for the cow?
    22        A.  Mastitis can be painful for the cow.
 
    23   Q.   What about lameness?
              A.  What is your question?
    24
         Q.   I do not know.  Do dairy cows suffer from lameness?
    25        A.  Yes, they do.
  
    26   Q.   What about a dropped udder, an injury to teats? 
              A.  Yes, that occurs. 
    27
         Q.   Is that more than in a natural  ----
    28
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Perhaps you had better put the word
    29        "particularly", or something like that.
 
    30   MR. MORRIS:  Do they particularly suffer from lameness and from
              a dropped udder and injury to teats?

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