Day 092 - 27 Feb 95 - Page 57


     
     1        A.  Yes.
     2
     3   Q.   Because of the international nature of McDonald's business?
     4        A.  That is correct, yes.
     5
     6   MS. STEEL:   Is there a law about stocking density in the USA?
     7        A.  No.
     8
     9   Q.   That is something that is just ----
    10        A.  No, that is something that came out of -- that is the
    11        best production that you will get from a house.
    12
    13   Q.   That is the most economic system?
    14        A.  The best overall system.
    15
    16   Q.   Yes, for economics rather than ----
    17        A.  No.  Put the question again.
    18
    19   Q.   It is not the best system for the chicken?
    20        A.  It is the whole environment.  It is not just
    21        economics.  You have to look at the entire picture.
    22        Economics plays a big role, yes.
    23
    24   Q.   Are there any welfare guidelines for maximum stocking
    25        density?
    26        A.  I told you before the US, no.
    27
    28   Q.   I said "guidelines" as opposed to "regulations".  There are
    29        no guidelines either?
    30        A.  No, there are no guidelines, no regulations.
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Not even state legislation in some states?
    33        A.  No, sir.
    34
    35   MS. STEEL:   What are the factors that are taken into account
    36        when deciding the stocking density then?
    37        A.  The conversion, the age of the animal, the environment,
    38        the temperature, relative humidity.
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Might I suggest that you could put it this
    41        way:  What factors are there which, at the end of the day,
    42        do not come down to commercial factors which relate to
    43        stocking density?  That is really what you are getting at,
    44        are you not?  You say it is all a matter of commerce, that
    45        if you crowd them in beyond a certain level they will start
    46        dying or going sick in significant numbers in the days
    47        leading up to what would be the normal time for sending
    48        them to slaughter.  At the end of the day is it purely a
    49        matter of commerce that if you pack them in above a certain
    50        density you are going to run into trouble in the last few 
    51        days with your flock? 
    52        A.  Yes.  If you pack in, if you over-stock, and that again 
    53        depends on the level of over-stocking, you are going to a
    54        lot more problems with diseases; you are going to have more
    55        problems with the health of the animal; you are going to
    56        have more problems cleaning the houses; you are going to
    57        have more deaths, more damage to the birds in terms of
    58        bruises.  You will not get the proper amount of feed
    59        conversion that you need to be economical and feasible to
    60        produce.

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