Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 32


     
     1        court when I return to Bristol tomorrow.
 
     2   Q.   This is quite important.
              A.  Right.  At least I will do my best to, if I have kept
     3        the records.
 
     4   Q.   At Sun Valley poultry you concluded that 1 per cent of the
              birds have residual brain stem activity at scalding?
     5        A.  Yes.
 
     6   Q.   So obviously they are, therefore, alive?
              A.  Yes.
     7
         Q.   The recommendations in the code of practice at tab H, 318,
     8        recommendation No. 41 says that birds should be dead
              before entering the scald tank?
     9        A.  Yes.
 
    10   Q.   So that is again something that is not being done,
              according to the codes of practice.  There is also
    11        something about times there as well.  It is quite
              important if you have the time available?
    12        A.  Yes.
 
    13   Q.   The 1 per cent of birds that were not dead at scalding,
              that is around 1,350 every day, that is quite a
    14        significant number?
              A.  I understand.
    15
         Q.   That would be something that would concern you?
    16        A.  These are guidelines which processors should aim for.
              In terms of whether the welfare is compromised, in this
    17        particular instance, if they are just showing brain stem
              activity and they are unconscious, I think it would be
    18        wrong to say that the welfare has been compromised.
 
    19   Q.   You do not know whether -----
              A.  This particular requirement adds a safety valve in the
    20        management of the overall slaughter process.  There is a,
              to help guarantee that nothing goes wrong, it is an extra
    21        requirement over and above that which is required solely
              out of welfare, you know, of the birds involved.
    22
         Q.   What does residual brain stem activity mean then?
    23        A.  Well, if one is unconscious and you have residual
              brain stem activity, you would not be described as being
    24        clinically dead.
 
    25   Q.   So it is possible you could come round?
              A.  No.  In that situation is rather unlikely.  The 
    26        vessels have been cut in the neck.  The bird would have to 
              be breathing and not have haemorrhaged extensively in 
    27        order to come around.  That situation is highly unlikely
              in this context.  In the case of different species, in the
    28        case of humans, then, yes, it is possible, when you have a
              brain stem reflex and you are on a life support system,
    29        for consciousness to be resumed.
 
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It is that sort of situation which leads to
              the highly publicised cases where people have to come to

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