Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 31
1
Q. OK, but it is not something you think is humane?
2 A. I would not recommend it, no.
3 Q. What are your views on decapitation? It does not cause
instantaneous death, does it?
4 A. My view is, from research that we have done using
chickens and decapitation, that it may not cause
5 instantaneous insensibility. Our physiological studies
show that it does not cause concussive like effects in the
6 brain. So, I am seriously concerned that it does not
cause instantaneous unconsciousness.
7
Q. Right. How long does it take for brain death after
8 decapitation?
A. In the case of, if you use a criteria of loss of evoke
9 responses, it is of the order, I believe, of about 90
seconds, it may be a little more. That is in one of the
10 papers; it is that sort of order.
11 Q. During that time you say your studies have shown the bird
is not unconscious?
12 A. I have not said that they show that; it is a very
difficult question to answer. If you have an isolated
13 head, to enquire from that head whether it is conscious,
you appreciate. Our physiological studies show it does not
14 induce concussion in the brain or at least concussive type
of effect you would expect. If decapitation is to cause
15 instantaneous unconsciousness, my argument would be that
it would have to induce that by a concussive like effect.
16 We have not observed that.
17 Q. So decapitation is not something you feel is to be
recommended?
18 A. I would only recommend it in the case of euthanasia
where there is no alternative, no suitable alternative,
19 which could be done rapidly.
20 Q. Otherwise you have concerns about whether it may cause
some suffering to the bird?
21 A. Correct.
22 Q. Severing the spinal cord without cutting the carotid
arteries results in death through asphyxia?
23 A. Yes.
24 Q. What is your view, is that something you consider to be
humane?
25 A. If the bird was not adequately stunned, did not remain
stunned up to the time that it died, then death from
26 asphyxia would be an unpleasant death, in my view.
27 Q. Death from this method could take quite a few minutes,
could it not?
28 A. Yes, that is given in the histogram we referred to
earlier. Yes, it would take quite a few minutes, yes.
29
Q. You cannot remember the length of time between stunning
30 and neck cutting?
A. No. This is information which I will send back to the
