Day 098 - 07 Mar 95 - Page 40


     
     1        something?
     2        A.  It is not more difficult.  It is more -- no, it is no
     3        more difficult.
     4
     5   Q.   Then why is it not so much of a problem with cows?
     6        A.  I am not sure that I follow you.  The cow meat is
     7        darker anyway.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, but the DFD as opposed to just being
    10        darker, it occurs to me that it might be because they
    11        suffer less stress because they are used to being handled
    12        or they are more placid animals anyway or there may be some
    13        other reason.  Do you know why it is?
    14        A.  From a quality point of view, the reason is that
    15        because the appearance of -----
    16
    17   Q.   No, I do not think that is what Ms. Steel is asking.  She
    18        is asking why cows suffer less DFD.
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:  Or seem to anyway.
    21        A.  Yes, that is not actually what I meant when I said --
    22        what I am trying to say, when I said it was not so much of
    23        a problem with cows, cow meat, I meant it was not so much
    24        of a problem from the quality point of view to me.
    25
    26   MS. STEEL:  So with beef, the problem is that it is visibly
    27        different so the customers would not want to buy it;
    28        whereas it is not noticeable with cows so the customers do
    29        not mind?
    30        A.  Some customers do not mind.
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I see.  So you were not offering any opinion
    33        on whether cows are more or less likely to be stressed than
    34        steers or heifers?
    35        A.  I was not at that point, sir, no, but I believe they
    36        are.
    37
    38   Q.   Not when you referred to that.
    39
    40   MS. STEEL:   Because yesterday Mr. Rampton asked you whether
    41        McKeys would accept that kind of cow and you said, well,
    42        because it was less of a problem with them?
    43        A.  Yes.
    44
    45   Q.   So is it -----
    46
    47   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Why not put the point you are trying
    48        to  -----
    49
    50   MS. STEEL:  Is it something that McKeys would accept or is it 
    51        just something that has not cropped up because it has never 
    52        been visible enough? 
    53        A.  If the beef was obviously markedly darker, then it
    54        would cause problems for McKeys, I am sure, yes.
    55
    56   Q.   Are you not aware of any instances of that then, when that
    57        has happened?
    58        A.  I am not, no.
    59
    60   Q.   With dairy cows then, does it have to be a very extreme

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