Day 089 - 15 Feb 95 - Page 49


     
     1        little excited?
     2        A.  Yes.
     3
     4   Q.   But then might quite quickly settle down after a few
     5        seconds, is that a normal picture or not?
     6        A.  That is a normal picture.  They tend to flap their
     7        wings and they tend to raise their head which is a natural
     8        reaction to being turned upside-down.
     9
    10   Q.   Yes, very well, thank you.
    11
    12   MR. RAMPTON:  Density:  I think I detected in an earlier answer
    13        that it varies according to the size of the birds and/or
    14        according to the weather conditions; is that right?
    15        A.  That is correct.
    16
    17   Q.   What are the weather conditions that determine a reduction
    18        in density?
    19        A.  In hot summer weather and especially, as I have
    20        mentioned before, above 23 degrees, we reduce the number of
    21        birds that go into a crate and the reduction depends on the
    22        degree of heat and humidity.  The time of the day is very
    23        important.  We find that the late afternoon is the time of
    24        highest humidity, and it is high humidity that causes as
    25        much a problem as high temperature.
    26
    27   Q.   Suppose you are collecting birds of average weight on a
    28        pleasant morning in May, let us say, and so there are no
    29        special weather problems and the birds are not oversized or
    30        undersized, what would be the sort of density of the cage?
    31        I mean, are they squashed in like sardines or how does it
    32        work?
    33        A.  We put in 15 males and up to 25 females, depending on
    34        the weight, as I say.  They are packed in fairly tightly.
    35        The aim of that is so that they can sit quietly on the
    36        bottom of the drawer, and they do not show any panic or
    37        wish to struggle to try to get out.  They sit quietly on
    38        the floor.  As the driver goes over bumps, or whatever,
    39        goes around corners in the road, it means that they are not
    40        being thrown around.  There are sufficient birds just to
    41        cover the floor space.
    42
    43   Q.   So they support each other?
    44        A.  They do.
    45
    46   Q.   What sort of a truck is it that transport them?
    47        A.  It is a lorry with, I think they would be called a flat
    48        bed lorry which sometimes tows a trailer.  The modules sit
    49        on it in layers and they are held on with special ties.
    50 
    51   Q.   Sort of clips and straps? 
    52        A.  That is correct, and then in the winter time we would 
    53        have sheeting at the front and at the sides to protect the
    54        birds from adverse weather conditions.
    55
    56   Q.   If the sun is very hot, can you put a sheet or tarpaulin
    57        over the top?
    58        A.  Yes, we can do that, although we have not found that to
    59        be a particular problem.
    60

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