Day 103 - 14 Mar 95 - Page 58


     
     1
     2   Q.   It is not an unusual occurrence, is it?
     3        A.  It will happen probably once every 300 or 400 birds.
     4
     5   Q.   Is that likely to have changed since Dr. Gregory visited
     6        the plant?
     7        A.  No.
     8
     9   Q.   It was 1 per cent then.  Would you accept that?
    10        A.  I accept that.
    11
    12   Q.   Is that something that has stayed the same over the past
    13        five or six years?
    14        A.  I would think so, yes.
    15
    16   Q.   When Dr. Gregory visited 13.5 per cent of birds were
    17        receiving prestun shocks.  Has that situation been
    18        rectified now?
    19        A.  Yes, we have changed the design of the stunning bath to
    20        avoid that happening.
    21
    22   Q.   What percentage is affected now?
    23        A.  I would think it is very, very low.  We have changed
    24        the design so that that should be avoided now.
    25
    26   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you think the 13.5 per cent might have
    27        been fairly typical five or six years ago?
    28        A.  I think it probably would and I think it would apply
    29        for a lot of stunning equipment.  We have identified a much
    30        better way of funneling the head into the bath now, so we
    31        ensure that the head receives the shock first.
    32
    33   MS. STEEL:   When was that change-over made?
    34        A.  About a year ago I should think.
    35
    36   Q.   Why did it take so long before the company did something
    37        about this?
    38        A.  Because we had to identify a design that would avoid it
    39        happening, and there did not seem to be one available.
    40
    41   Q.   Well, Dr. Gregory recommended that the stunners should be
    42        fitted with adjustable electrically isolated ramps up which
    43        the birds would be dragged.  That was something you would
    44        have installed several years ago, was it not?
    45        A.  The system that we have at the moment is rather similar
    46        to that, but we can only use what equipment is available.
    47
    48   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  So you have got to buy the whole system, have
    49        you?
    50        A.  Well, it means certain parts of the system, including 
    51        the bath and so on, is one part.  I think you probably do 
    52        buy the system as a package.  I am not absolutely sure. 
    53
    54   MS. STEEL:   The MAFF codes of practice state that faults lead
    55        to birds receiving prestun shocks and must be corrected, do
    56        they not, and they have said that for some considerable
    57        number of years now?
    58        A.  Yes.
    59
    60   Q.   But you did not do anything to correct the situation at Sun

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