Day 090 - 16 Feb 95 - Page 32


     
     1   Q.   If there is less activity then the birds will put on weight
     2        faster, will they not?
     3        A.  I do not think the light intensity is particularly
     4        important in that regard, although you might think it was.
     5        I do not believe it is.
     6
     7   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Does it not save money?
     8        A.  It saves no money at all.
     9
    10   Q.   It does not ---
    11        A.  It makes no difference.
    12
    13   Q.  -- because of the system?
    14        A.  No.
    15
    16   Q.   Not in electricity bills.  Can you in one sentence explain
    17        why that is, bearing in mind you are not speaking to
    18        someone with any great electrical knowledge or knowledge of
    19        the kind of fittings you have?
    20        A.  The fittings are mostly fluorescent lights which use
    21        less electricity than incandescent bulbs.  There is a
    22        particular long lasting type of fluorescent bulb which
    23        gives a greater degree of life, and the amount of light
    24        that would be used by changing the intensity, or the amount
    25        of electricity that would be used, would be so minimal in
    26        comparison to the electricity that is used for driving fans
    27        or driving heaters.
    28
    29   Q.   I can grapple with that.  You must use more electricity to
    30        get a greater lux but it pales, you say, into total
    31        insignificance compared with the other uses of electricity,
    32        is that what you are saying?
    33        A.  That is exactly what I am saying.
    34
    35   MS. STEEL:  If there is no disadvantage to using brighter light
    36        and it seems to have advantages for the chickens as far as
    37        the Farm Animal Welfare Council thinks, with their
    38        recommendation of at least 20 lux, can you explain why you
    39        have not been using brighter light for the last 10 years?
    40        A.  What, brighter than 20 lux?
    41
    42   Q.   Yes.
    43        A.  Because we do not perceive any great advantage.
    44
    45   Q.   If it was nicer for the chickens, how about doing it for
    46        that reason?
    47        A.  If the scientific evidence is there to prove that it is
    48        nicer for the chickens, I am sure we would look at it.
    49
    50   Q.   Paragraph 38 does indicate that it is better for the 
    51        chickens to have it at over 20 lux. 
    52        A.  But the ----- 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Actually, when one reads it, it is a slightly
    55        tortuous paragraph.  "We recommend that all houses should
    56        have light levels sufficient to allow all birds to see and
    57        be seen clearly.  We consider that a suitable average light
    58        intensity is likely to be at least 20 lux throughout the
    59        house at bird eye height and the industry should be
    60        encouraged to adopt this level of illuminance".  You see,

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